The  MESSIA 


11  DAVID  McCONAUGHY  K 


iJiili   i! 


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Presented  to  the 
SEMINARY  LIBRARY 

BY  THE  author. 


LIBRARY  OF  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


PRINCETON,  N.  J 


PRESENTED  BY 


THE  AUTHOR 


Division  ..4^_5_C-^    ^  <^ 
Section... :^.Q..r.].  \  ^  L- 


THE  MESSIAH 


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THE   MESSMH 


3  1941 


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C^GICALS' 


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.  By 

DAVID  McCONAUGHY 

Author  of  "  Leaves  from  a  Worker'' s  Not  e-book 


PART  ONE — Studies  in  the  Gospel  of  the  Kingdom 
PART  TWO — Devotional  Meditations  on  the  Same 


New  York  Chicago  Toronto 

Fleming  H.   Revell  Company 

London         and         Edinburgh 


Copyright,  1907,  by 
FLEMING  H.   REVELL  COMPANY 


New  York:  158  Fifth  Avenue 
Chicago:  80  Wabash  Avenue 
Toronto:  25  Richmond  Street,  W. 
London:  21  Paternoster  Square 
Edinburgh:      100    Princes    Street 


FOREWORD 

This  study  of  the  Gospel  of  the  Kingdom  is  intended 
to  be  suggestive,  rather  than  in  any  sense  exhaustive. 
Part  I  aims  to  clearly  trace  the  outlines  of  the  peerless 
portrait  of  the  Messiah  as  depicted  by  Matthew.  The 
material  is  more  especially  designed  to  be  of  use  to  Chris- 
tians who  are  already  somewhat  familiar  with  the  contents 
of  Matthew's  Gospel.  It  is  arranged  so  as  to  be  either 
read  continuously  or  taken  up  in  course  in  daily  studies, 
individually,  with  a  weekly  review,  unitedly.  For  this 
purpose,  divisions  by  days  are  indicated  in  Part  I,  which 
however  may  be  changed  at  pleasure.  Points  for  review 
are  also  suggested  at  the  close  of  each  chapter,  for  guid- 
ance in  class  work.  Part  I  lends  itself  more  especially  to 
the  Bible  Class,  dealing  with  the  structure  and  the  thought ; 
Part  II  to  the  Bible  Circle,  having  to  do  rather  with  the 
spiritual  truths  and  their  personal  application  to  life.  In 
Part  II  are  given  Devotional  Meditations,  adapted  to  use 
in  the  Quiet  Hour.  It  is  not  intended  that  the  material  of 
the  first  day  in  Part  II  should  be  taken  up  in  connection 
with  that  of  the  first  day  in  Part  I  and  so  consecutively. 
Probably  the  best  results  may  be  obtained  from  Part  II 
after  the  material  of  Part  I  has  been  thoroughly  mastered. 

In  the  Meditations  the  main  aim  has  been  to  illustrate  a 
method,  simple  yet  sufficient  to  yield  substantial  results  to 
the  ordinary  disciple  who,  from  lack  of  some  such  plan  of 
utilizing  to  advantage  fragments  of  time  for  Bible  study, 
may  fail  to  obtain  day  by  day  the  daily  portion  of  the 

5 


6  Foreword 

Bread  of  Life  which  his  soul  requires.  The  plan  which  is 
here  applied  has  been  proven  practicable  and  productive 
by  busy  men  of  business  and  by  students  in  the  schools,  as 
well  as  by  those  in  whose  lives  there  is  more  of  leisure. 

Should  these  pages  serve  to  show  forth  any  more  clearly 
the  King  in  His  beauty  and  incite  to  more  diligent  study 
and  personal  appropriation  of  His  Word,  the  purpose  will 
have  been  accomplished. 


CONTENTS 


PART  FIRST 


STUDIES  IN  THE  GOSPEL  OF 
THE  KINGDOM 

Study  I. 

Introductory       

II 

Study  II. 

His  Preparation — as  King     . 

20 

Study  III. 

His   Program — as   Prophet  :  The  New 
Man 

39 

Study  IV. 

His   Program — as   Prophet:   The  New 
Law 

5+ 

Study  V. 

His   Program — as  Prophet  :   The  New 
Life 

59 

Study  VI. 

The  New  Service — Works  of  Power 

67 

Study  VII. 

The  New  Service — Words  of  Wisdom    . 

79 

Study  VIII. 

His  Propitiation — as  Priest 

9' 

PART  SECOND 


DEVOTIONAL     MEDITATIONS     ARRANGED 

FOR  DAILY  USE  IN  THE  QUIET  HOUR     99 


PART  FIRST 

STUDIES  IN  THE  GOSPEL  OF 
THE  KINGDOM 


STUDY  I 

INTRODUCTORY 

First  Day. — Four  Evangelists,  but  One  Evangel. 

<«  Surely  one  star  above  all  souls  shall  brighten, 
Leading  forever  where  the  Lord  is  laid ; 
One  revelation  through  all  years  enlighten 
Steps  of  bewilderment  and  eyes  afraid." 

Whoever  would  understand  what  the  gospel  contains, 
must  gain  the  vantage-ground  from  which  each  of  the  four 
writers  under  the  guidance  of  the  one  divine  Author  pre- 
sents the  inspired,  composite  portrait  of  the  Christ. 

It  is  said  that  when  a  statue  of  Charles  the  First,  of 
England,  was  to  be  carved,  the  sculptor  was  furnished 
with  three  portraits  of  the  king  by  Van  Dyke.  Before 
John  gave  to  the  world  the  wondrous  life-sized  figure  of 
the  Son  of  God,  three  portraits  were  first  drawn,  each  from 
a  different  standpoint  and  with  a  distinct  purpose,  by  Mat- 
thew, Mark  and  Luke.  To  get  a  clear  vision  of  the  won- 
derful Person  as  presented  by  any  one  of  these,  it  is  neces- 
sary, first,  to  get  the  point  of  view  of  each.  For  while 
there  are  four  evangelists,  there  is  but  one  Evangel — as 
four  photographs,  presenting  one  composite  likeness  of  the 
God-man  j  four  trumpets,*  summoning  the  Church  from 
all  the  four  winds;  four  steeds,'^  drawing  the  triumphal 
car  of  Christ ;  four  parts  of  music  ^  which  may  be  sung 
separately,  but  together  blend  in  the  harmony  of  a  quar- 

» Augustine.  '  Calvin.  a  Bengell. 

II 


12  The  Messiah 

tette ;  four  streams,  as  the  rivers  ^  in  Eden  flowing  out  to 
irrigate  the  whole  earth;  four  living  creatures,'  each  pre- 
senting a  diversity  of  aspects  but  perfect  unity  of  action. 

Second  Day. — Matthew's  Place  Among  the  Evan- 
gelists. 

The  Books  of  Jesus  in  the  New  Testament  correspond 
to  those  of  Moses  in  the  Old.  As  Deuteronomy  is 
mainly  composed  of  the  messages  from  Jehovah  through 
Moses,  so  John's  gospel  is  largely  made  up  of  the  words 
of  Jesus.  In  this  gospel  are  focussed  the  numerous  proph- 
ecies of  the  Christ  that  appear  throughout  the  Old  Testa- 
ment. 

The  three  Synoptists,  writing  in  the  sixth  or  seventh 
decade  of  the  first  century  from  the  outward  and  earthly 
side,  taking  a  view  of  our  Lord's  life  in  perspective,  give 
us  the  gospel  of  the  infant  Church,  while  John,  writing 
probably  in  the  last  decade  of  that  century,  and  confining 
attention  mainly  to  the  Judean  ministry  and  particularly 
to  the  closing  events,  gives  from  the  inward  and  heavenly 
standpoint,  the  gospel  of  the  Church  after  she  has  been 
tried  as  by  fire. 

Matthew  masses  the  material  in  a  topical  way.  The 
evidence  of  design  is  to  be  seen  in  the  structure  of  the 
book  throughout.  The  literary  quality  of  the  production  is 
remarkable  and  the  work  cannot  be  accounted  for  on  merely 
natural  grounds.  This  <'  holy  man  "  manifestly  wrote  as 
he  was  "moved  by  the  Holy  Spirit  "  (2  Pet.  i  :  21). 

Of  Matthew  about  all  that  is  known  is  this :  that  his 
father's  name  was  Alpheus,  that  he  was  himself  a  pub- 
lican, or  collector  of  taxes,  that  he  was  called  to  be  a  dis- 

•  Jerome. 

2  Ezekiel  (Ezck.  i :  10 ;  10  :  14) ;  John  (Rev.  4  :  7). 


Introductory  13 

ciple  of  Christ,  that  thereupon  *'he  forsook  all"  Luke 
5  :  28),  that  his  name  was  changed  from  Levi  ("Assoc- 
iated ")  to  Matthew  ('*  Given  ").  There  is  not  a  comment 
of  his  own  recorded  in  the  gospel. 

It  is  not  known  what  became  of  him,  where  he  preached 
or  how  he  died.  It  is  generally  agreed  that  he  wrote  his 
record  of  the  gospel  in  Hebrew;  yet  the  opinion  of 
Erasmus  is  commonly  accepted,  that  our  Greek  version  of 
it  is  no  translation;  so  that  probably  he  wrote  in  both 
Hebrew  and  Greek. 


H 


The  Messiah 


A  COMPARATIVE  SURVEY 

Showing  the  characteristics  of  each 


Third  Day. 


Wriiten 
By  whom  ? 
For  whom  ? 
Where  ? 
When  ? 


Matthew 
A  Hebrew 
The  Hebrew 
Palestine 
50-60 


Fourth  Day.  Why? 

I.  To  show  Christ 


2.  Symbols 

(Rev.  4:7) 


King  (mainly) 
King  of  the  Jews 
Christ's  claim  on  man 

The  Lion   (Rev.  5:  5) 
overcoming 


Genealogy 


Son  of  David 
(from  Abraham) 


Fifth  Day.     H<yw? 


Salient  features : 
Opens  with  : 
Closes  with : 


Key  words  : 


Topical,  Consecutive 

Miracle 
Genealogy 

The    Resurrection   and 
Command 

"  Kingdom  of  Heaven  " 

(32  times) 
"  Kingdom "    of     God 

(3  times) 
"  King  " 

(22  times) 


Analogies  to  the  Court  of  Israel 

plan  of  the  Temple  : 
Writer's  monogram  :    "  A  Publican  "  at  the  re- 
ceipt     of      customs 
(10:3) 


Introductory 


15 


A  COMPARATIVE  SURVEY  (continued) 
of  the  four  versions  of  the  Gospel 


Mark 

Luke 

John 

A  Roman 

A  Greek 

A  Cosmopolitan 

The  Roman 

The  Greek 

The  World 

Rome 

Csesarea 

Ephesus 

About  60 

57-63 

About  97 

Priest  and  Levite  Prophet  The  Word  made  flesh 

Servant  of  God  and  man  The  wisdom  of  God        The  incarnation  of  God 
Man's  claim  on  Christ     Christ's  relation  to  man  Man's  relation  to  God 

through  Christ 
Ox  (ministering  before,  Man  Eagle 

then  offered  upon,  the  Sympathizing  and  help-  Soaring 

altar)  ing 

Toiling  and  dying 
(No  Genealogy)  Son  of  Adam  Son  of  God 

(from  Nathan)  "  Was  God  " 


Chronological,  Concise  Classical,  Copious 

Action  Parable 

"  My  messenger  "  Angel's  announcement 

The     Ascension      and  Benediction  and  prom- 
obedience  to  the  Com-  ise  of  enduement 
mand 

**  Straightway  "  (of  80  "  A  certain  man," 

times    in    the    New  >«  wept " 
Testament,  here  40) 

«  Took,"  "  Touched," 
"  Looked,"  "  Power  " 


Of  the  Priests 


Of  the  Gentiles 


Theological,  Vivid 
Discourse 

"  In  the  beginning  " 
Promise  of  the  Second 
Coming 

«  Believe  "  (98) 

"Witness"  (47) 

"  I  am  "  ( 10) 

"  Verily,  Verily  "  (22) 

««  Love"  (12) 

«  Life  "  (22) 

"Glory  "(15) 

The  Holy  of  Holies 


The  youth  who  fled,  The  companion  of  Cleo-  «  One  of  His  disciples 
leaving  his  linen  pas  on  the  way  to  whom  Jesus  loved " 
cloth  (14:51)  Emmaus  (24 :  18)  (13:23) 


i6  The  Messiah 

Sixth  Day.— The  Plan. 

The  plan  of  Matthew's  gospel,  while  not  obtruding  itself 
upon  the  surface,  is  in  fact  laid  with  the  skill  of  a  literary 
artist.  It  is  only  after  patient  examination  that  the  outline 
appears,  all  perfectly  articulated  and  presenting  a  perfect 
portrait  of  the  Messiah.  The  details  are  exquisite  in 
finish  and  will  bear  the  closest  study. 

To  begin  with,  note  the  main  lines  of  cleavage,  marked 
by  the  formula,  "  From  that  time  began  Jesus  "  ;  (4 :  17) 
*'  to  preach  ";  (16:  21)  ''to  show  unto  His  disciples  that 
He  must  .  .  .  suffer  .  .  .  and  be  raised."  Thus 
the  ground-plan  of  the  book  comes  into  view,  depicting 
the  Messiah  in  His  threefold  office  : 

I.     (I  :  1-4:  II.) 
His 
P 
r 

e 

P 

a  as  King. 

r 
a 
t 
i 
o 
n 

II.     (4:  12-16:  12.) 
His 
P 
r 
o  as  Prophet. 

g 
r 
a 
m 


Introductory  17 


III.     (16:  13-28:  20.) 
His 
P 

r 
o 

P 
i 

t  as  Priest, 

i 
a 
t 
i 
o 
n 


Seventh  Day. — A  Working  Method.* 

If  the  division  into  chapters  seems  in  some  cases  to  be 
arbitrary  or  artificial,  wherever  violence  is  thus  done  to  the 
sequence  of  thought,  it  is  better  not  to  adhere  to  this 
division.  But,  in  the  main,  it  will  be  found  satisfactory  to 
work  by  chapters,  taking  a  title  for  each,  to  serve  as  a 
handle  to  get  hold  of  the  contents,  so  as  to  recall  the 
thread  of  thought  and  make  it  possible  to  think  through 
the  book  connectedly,  afterwards. 

In  order  to  master  the  contents  of  a  chapter  or  para- 
graph, several  steps  are  essential  and  these  may  be  very 
briefly  indicated  as  follows  : 

(i)     The  Thought,  or  what  it  tells, 

(2)  The  Truth,  or  what  it  teaches, 

(3)  The  Text,  or  what  to  take. 

(4)  The  Title,  or  what  to  term  it. 

(i)     Read  the  portion  and  write  down  in  the  fewest 

*  Part  II  affords  illustration  of  this  method  throughout. 


l8  The  Messiah 

possible  words  (as  for  a  telegram)  the  gist  of  it,  looking 
carefully  for  the  current  of  the  Thought. 

(2)  Go  over  the  passage  again,  with  eyes  open  to  note 
the  principal  points  of  the  Truths  there  contained. 

(3)  Dwell  upon  these  prayerfully  with  a  view  to  de- 
termining what  is  especially  intended  as  a  message  at  the 
time  for  yourself  and  seize  upon  that  verse  or  clause  or 
word  as  your  golden  Text,  memorizing  it  and  recalling  it 
throughout  the  day. 

(4)  If  possible,  select  from  the  text  of  the  chapter  itself 
a  key-word  which  will  best  serve  to  recall  the  contents, 
tracing  over  the  letters  and  enclosing  it  with  lines  so  as  to 
make  it  stand  out  upon  the  page  as  the  chapter  Title. 

Now  turn  into  prayer  the  truth  that  has  gripped  you 
and  then  proceed  to  tratislate  it  into  your  very  life 
throughout  the  day. 

This  plan  may  be  termed  The  4-T  Method. 


POINTS  FOR  REVIEW 
STUDY  I 

INTRODUCTORY 

First  Day. — Why  Four  Gospels  ? 

Are  there  really  four  ? 

To  what  may  they  be  likened  ? 

Seek  to  ascertain  the  exact  standpoint  of  each  of  the  four  writers. 

See  the  symbols  given  in  Rev.  4:7;  compare  those  of  Ezek. 
1 :  10 ;   10  :  14. 

Second  Day. — Matthew's  Place  Among  the  Evangelists. 

With  what  books   of  the  Old  Testament  do  those  of  the  four 
evangelists  compare  ? 


Introductory  19 

Why  are  the  first  three  distinguished  as  "  the  Synoptists  "  ? 
What,  exactly,  does  the  term  mean  ? 
What  is  known  of  Matthew  ? 

Third  Day. — A  Comparative  Survey  of  the  Gospels. 

Master  the  material  contained  in  the  summary,  including  the 
salient  facts  as  to  the  authorship  of  each;  by  whom,  for  whom,  where 
and  when  each  was  written. 

Fourth  Day. — The  Writer's  Standpoint. 

Turning  again  to  the  summary,  grasp  the  points  as  iowhy  Matthew 
wrote,  in  comparison  or  in  contrast  with  the  others,  determining  the 
point  of  view  of  each  writer  and  noting  the  words  and  phrases  pe- 
culiar to  Matthew. 

Fifth  Day. — The  Writer's  Style. 

Note  especially  how  Matthew  wrote  as  compared  with  the  others, 
his  special  characteristics ;  what  feature  predominates  ?  With  what 
does  the  book  open  ?     With  what  does  it  close  ? 

Mark  the  key-words  and  how  often  each  occurs. 

Sixth  Day. — The  Plan  of  the  Book. 

Find  the  main  lines  of  cleavage,  indicated  by  the  formula : 
"  From  that  time  began  Jesus,"  which  is  introduced  in  each  case 
by  a  brief  paragraph  marking  the  time  referred  to. 

What  three  phases  of  the  Messiah  are  presented  in  the  three  great 
divisions  of  the  Book  ? 

Note,  also,  the  formula,  "  It  came  to  pass  when  Jesus  had  fin- 
ished," which  subdivides  the  second  section  at  7 :  28 ;  1 1  :  I  and 
13  :  53;  also  the  third  section  at  19  :  I  and  26:  I. 

In  the  last  instance,  why  is  the  word  "  all "  inserted  ? 

Seventh  Day. — A  Working  Method. 

If  the  truth  contained  in  this  book  is  to  be  assimilated  into  the 
heart-life,  it  must  first  be  appropriated  through  the  head.  What 
method  will  you  adopt,  which  will  be  at  once  simple  and  sufficient 
to  realize  the  result  desired  ? 

What  are  the  four  main  points  in  this  plan,  to  be  applied  in  the 
study  of  each  portion  ? 

\^See  Part  II  for  a  practical  application  of  this  method.  ] 


STUDY  II 

HIS  PREPARATION— AS  KING 

1 : 1-4  :  II. 

«  Behold,  thy  King  cometh  unto  thee." 

First  Day. — Prophecy  Fulfilled:  His  Nature  and 
Names. 

A  COPY  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of 
America  has  been  so  engrossed  that  the  arrangement  and 
shading  of  the  letters  bring  out  in  bold  relief  the  portrait 
of  George  Washington.  In  a  somewhat  similar  way,  in 
the  Gospel  by  Matthew,  may  be  seen  portrayed  the 
Messiah — King  and  Prophet  and  Priest — for  whose  appear- 
ing the  ages  had  waited.  In  Jesus  Christ  more  than  three 
hundred  distinct  prophecies  converge  and  find  fulfillment. 
The  Coming  One,  moving  majestically  down  through  the 
centuries,  foreseen  at  first  but  faintly  by  seer  and  prophet, 
at  length  draws  near  to  men.  The  shadows  cast  before 
Him  shorten  more  and  more  until  at  length  He  appears  in 
person,  although  scarce  recognized  by  any  until  after  He 
has  accomplished  His  mission  and  passed  out.  In  the 
shadow-pictures  of  Him  which  appear  in  the  Old 
Testament,  even  as  in  the  art  galleries  of  modern  times, 
two  types  of  portrait  are  presented — the  **  Ecce  Homo  "  and 
the  '*  Ecce  Deus."  The  Jew  chose  to  see  in  Him  mainly, 
if  not  only,  the  conquering  King,  who  would  subdue  all 
nations  under  His  sceptre.  The  Christian,  on  the  con- 
trary, looks  chiefly  at  the  other  set  of  pictures  and  sees 
Him  as  the  Priest  offering  Himself  up  as  a  sacrifice  for  sin, 
the  suffering  Saviour.  The  Roman  and  the  Greek  branches 
of  the  Christian  Church  emphasize  this  latter  view  by  the 

20 


His  Preparation — As  King  21 

symbol  of  the  Cross,  while  the  Protestant  presses  the  truth 
of  the  Atonement  in  a  system  of  doctrine  which  scarcely 
preserves  a  due  proportion  between  the  two  hemispheres  of 
the  Truth.  For  although  that  relating  to  the  death  of  the 
Saviour  cannot  be  emphasized  too  much,  it  may  be  pressed 
too  exclusively,  to  the  neglect  of  that  which  has  to  do  with 
His  resurrection  life,  and  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and 
the  coming  glory  of  the  King.  In  the  Scriptures,  however, 
there  is  set  forth,  in  perfect  symmetry,  the  portrait  of  the 
Messiah,  at  once  Priest  and  King,  and  also,  the  Prophet 
who  proclaims  the  real  relation  between  the  two. 

This  long-looked  for  Coming  One  fulfills  all  the  con- 
ditions foretold  as  to : 

(i)     His  Nature  : 

Human.  He  is  to  be  the  Seed  of  a  woman  (Gen. 
3:15,  with  Luke  2:7,  Gal.  4:4).  Born  in  Bethlehem 
(Micah  5  :  2,  with  Luke  2  :  4-7);  of  a  Virgin  (Is.  7  :  14 
with  Matt.  I  :  21-23)  \  of  the  seed  of  Abraham  (Gen. 
12:3,  with  Gal.  3:16);  Isaac  (Gen.  21:12,  with  Luke 
3  •  34) j  Jacob  (Gen.  28:  14,  with  Matt.  1:2);  Judah 
(Gen.  49:  10,  with  Heb.  7  :  14).  Of  the  family  of  Jesse 
(Is.  II  :  I,  10,  with  Matt.  1:5);  David  (2  Sam.  7,  12, 
with  Luke  i  :  31-33). 

Divine.  Begotten  of  Jehovah  (Ps.  2 :  7,  with  Matt. 
^7:5)^  Jehovah's  <'  fellow  "  (Zech.  13  :  7,  with  Phil.  2  :  6). 
His  name  (among  others)  is  "  Mighty  God  "  (Is.  9  :  6,  with 
Rom.  9:5;  Titus  2:13).  He  is  shown  to  be  the  Son  of 
God  with  power  by  His  rising  from  the  dead  (Matt. 
28 :  6,  7). 

These  two  natures  perfectly  blend  in  Him  who  is  at 
once  the  Son  of  Man  and  the  Son  of  God, 

"  Jesus,  divinest  when  Thou  most  art  man." 


22  The  Messiah 

(2)     His  Names  : 

Branch,  the  (Is.  11  :  i). 

Father  of  Eternity  (Is.  9  :  6,  R.  V.  Margin). 

Governor  (Mic.  5:2,  with  Matt.  2:6). 

High  Priest  (Heb.  7  :  26). 

Holy  One  (Ps.  16  :  10). 

Immanuel  (Is,  7  :  14). 

Jehovah  our  Righteousness  (Jer.  23  :  6  j  33  :  16). 

Messenger  of  the  Covenant  (Mai.  3  :  i). 

Messiah  (Dan.  9  ;  25). 

Mighty  God  (Is.  9:6). 

Prince  of  Peace  (Is.  9  :  6). 

Redeemer  (Is.  41  :  14 ;  59  :  20). 

Wonderful  Counsellor  (Is.  9:6). 

Second  Day.— His  Offices. 

(i)     Prophet: 

"Jehovah  thy  God  will  raise  up  unto  thee  a  Prophet 
from  the  midst  of  thee,  of  thy  brethren,  like  unto  Me," 
Moses  was  assured  of  God  ;  "  unto  Him  ye  shall  hearken. 
.  .  .  And  I  will  put  My  words  in  His  mouth,  and  He 
shall  speak  unto  them  all  that  I  shall  command  Him.  And 
it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  whosoever  will  not  hearken  unto 
My  words  which  He  shall  speak  in  My  name,  I  will  re- 
quire it  of  him  "  (Deut.  18  :  15-19,  with  Acts  3  :  22). 

More  than  fifteen  centuries  afterwards,  Moses,  along  with 
Elijah,  was  allowed  to  see  that  Word  fulfilled  amid  the 
glory  of  the  Transfiguration.  **  And  a  voice  came  out  of 
the  cloud,  saying,  This  is  My  Son,  My  chosen,  hear  ye 
Him -(Luke  9 -.35). 

At  length  this  Prophet,  so  long  foretold,  appears  in  the 
synagogue  of  Nazareth,  and  "the  eyes  of  all  .  .  . 
were  fastened  on  Him,"  as  He  opened   unto  them  the 


His  Preparation — As  King  23 

Scriptures,  and  they  "wondered  at  the  gracious  words 
which  proceeded  out  of  His  mouth"  (Luke  4:  16-22). 
Not  only  Herod  (Luke  9 :  7-19)  but  many  others  in  those 
days  were  perplexed,  and  asked  whether  this  One  were 
Elijah,  or  '*  the  Prophet  "  or  who  He  might  be  (John 
I  :  21). 

(2)     Priest: 

"  He  shall  be  a  Priest  upon  His  throne  "(Zech.  6  :  13). 
"Jehovah  hath  sworn,  and  will  not  repent.  Thou  art  a 
Priest  forever  after  the  order  of  Melchizedek  "  (Ps.  110:4). 
"  So  Christ,  also,  glorified  not  Himself  to  be  made  a  High 
Priest,  but  He  that  spake  unto  Him,  Thou  art  My  Son, 
this  day  have  I  begotten  Thee ;  as  He  saith  also  in  another 
place,  Thou  art  a  priest  forever  after  the  order  of  Mel- 
chizedek. Who  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  when  he  had 
offered  up  prayers  and  supplications  with  strong  crying 
and  tears  unto  him  that  was  able  to  save  him  from  death, 
and  was  heard  in  that  he  feared  ;  though  he  were  a  Son, 
yet  learned  he  obedience  by  the  things  which  he  suffered ; 
and  being  made  perfect,  he  became  the  author  of  eternal 
salvation  unto  all  them  that  obey  him ;  called  of  God 
an   high  priest  after  the  order  of  Melchizedek"  (Heb. 

5:5-10)- 

And  this  Priest  in  due  time,  offered  Himself  a  sacrifice 
for  sinners.  "  When  Thou  shalt  make  His  soul  an  offer- 
ing for  sin,  He  shall  see  His  seed.  He  shall  prolong  His 
days,  and  the  pleasure  of  Jehovah  shall  prosper  in  His 
hand.  He  shall  see  of  the  travail  of  His  soul,  and  shall 
be  satisfied.  By  the  knowledge  of  Himself  shall  my 
Righteous  Servant  justify  many,  and  He  shall  bear  their 
infirmities.  Therefore  will  I  divide  him  a  portion  with 
the  great,  and  he  shall  divide  the  spoil  with  the  strong ; 
because  he  hath  poured  out  his  soul  unto  death,  yet  he 


24  The  Messiah 

was  numbered  with  the  transgressors ;  and  he  bare  the  sin 
of  many,  and  made  intercession  for  the  transgressors" 
(Is.  53:10-12). 

(3)     King  : 

"  The  sceptre  shall  not  depart  from  Judah  nor  the  Ruler 
from  between  His  feet,  until  Shiloh  come ;  and  unto  Him 
shall  the  obedience  of  the  peoples  be"  (Gen.  49  :  8-12). 
He  is  to  be  of  the  lineage  of  David  (Jer.  23  :  5  ;  30 :  9 ; 

zz '  15-18). 

*'  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord,  that  I  will 
raise  unto  David  a  righteous  Branch,  and  He  shall  reign  as 
King  and  deal  wisely  and  shall  execute  justice  and  right- 
eousness "  (Jer.  23  :  5).  **  The  Creator  of  Israel,  your 
King  "  (Is.  43  :  15).  "  Yet  have  I  set  my  King  upon  my 
holy  hill  of  Zion.  .  .  .  Ask  of  me  and  /  will  give 
thee  the  heathen"  (Ps.  2:6).  "He  shall  have  domin- 
ion also  from  sea  to  sea"  (Ps.  72:8).  "I  have 
laid  upon  One  that  is  mighty,  I  have  exalted 
one  chosen  out  of  the  people  .  .  .  have  found 
and  anointed  Him  .  .  .  established  .  .  .  shall 
strengthen  .  .  .  will  set  His  hand  also,  on  the  sea 
and  His  right  hand  on  the  rivers.  ...  I  will  make 
Him  My  first-born,  the  highest  of  the  kings  of  the  earth. 
His  seed  shall  endure  forever  and  His  throne  as  the  sun 
before  me  "  (Ps.  89  :  25-27). 

"I  beheld  till  thrones  were  placed  and  one  that  was 
ancient  of  days  did  sit :  His  raiment  was  white  as  snow, 
and  the  hair  of  His  head  like  pure  wool :  His  throne  was 
fiery  flames  and  the  wheels  thereof  burning  fire.  A  fiery 
stream  issued  and  came  forth  from  before  Him.  Thou- 
sands of  thousands  ministered  unto  Him,  and  ten  thousand 
times  ten  thousand  stood  before  Him.  ...  I  saw 
in  the  night  visions  and  behold  there  came  with  the 


His  Preparation — As  King  25 

clouds  of  heaven  one  like  unto  a  Son  of  man  and  he 
came  even  to  the  ancient  of  days  and  they  brought  Him 
near  before  Him.  And  there  was  given  Him  dominion 
and  glory  and  a  kingdom,  that  all  people,  nations,  and 
languages  should  serve  Him  :  His  dominion  is  an  ever- 
lasting dominion  which  shall  not  pass  away,  and  His  king- 
dom that  which  shall  not  be  destroyed  "  (Dan.  7  :  9-14). 
He  is  described  as  "  the  Prince  of  Peace  "  (Is.  9:6),  "  the 
Anointed  One,  the  Prince"  (Dan.  9:  25),  "the  Ruler  of 
Israel"  (Micah  5:2).  "Rejoice  greatly,  O  daughter  of 
Zion ;  shout,  O  daughter  of  Jerusalem :  behold,  thy 
King  Cometh  unto  thee;  He  is  just  and  having 
salvation,  lowly,  and  riding  upon  an  ass,  even  upon 
a  colt  the  foal  of  an  ass.  .  .  .  And  He  shall  speak 
peace  unto  the  heathen:  and  His  dominion  shall  be 
from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  River  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth"  (Zech.  9:  9,  10,  cf.  Matt.  21  :  i-ii).  "And  the 
government  shall  be  upon  His  shoulder.  ...  Of  the 
increase  of  His  government  and  peace  there  shall  be  no 
end  "  (no  frontier.     Is.  9  :  6,  7). 


Third  Day.— The  Royal  Title  Traced  (i  :  1-17). 

The  title  of  the  King  is  clearly  traced  back  along  the 
line  of  royalty,  so  that  His  claim  is  indisputably  estab- 
lished. Matthew's  record  differs  from  Luke's  in  several 
particulars.  While  Luke  starts  at  the  head  of  the  human 
race  in  Adam  and  traces  the  line  down  from  the  source, 
Matthew  follows  the  stream  up  only  to  the  point  where  the 
regal  line  begins  with  Abraham,  the  Friend  of  God. 
Then,  too,  Matthew  follows  the  legal  line  of  descent 
through  Joseph's  father,  Jacob,  while  Luke  follows  the 
natural  line  through  Heli,  or  Eli,  the  father  of  Mary. 


26  The  Messiah 

Thus  the  genealogy  is  traced  back  along  both  lines  to 
David,  where  they  merge  in  a  common  stock,  making  as- 
surance doubly  sure,  that  Jesus  is  beyond  all  question 
**  Great  David's  greater  Son,"  not  alone  legally  through 
his  adopted  father,  but  naturally,  too,  through  his  mother. 
Thus  is  furnished  the  key  to  the  puzzle  which  Jesus  put  to 
the  Pharisees  (Matt.  22  :  41),  how  He  could  be  at  once 
both  Son  and  Lord. 

The  division  into  three  sections  of  fourteen  genealogies 
each  is  not  exact,  for  between  Joram  and  Uzziah  in  the 
second  section,  three  kings  are  omitted,  as  is  Jehoiakim  at 
the  end  of  the  second  section.  Even  so,  it  is  with  almost 
rhythmical  measure  that  the  procession  of  human  life 
moves  down  the  centuries  under  the  divine  direction,  laws 
of  heredity  and  environment  alike  conspiring  towards  the 
fruition  of  the  Coming  Seed.  The  preservation  of  a  male 
line  unbroken  through  so  many  centuries  is  in  itself  a 
marvellous  proof  of  divine  direction.  No  ''  fortuitous  con- 
course of  atoms"  can  account  for  such  coincidence. 
Here  is  nothing  less  than  divine  design  in  human  history. 

In  this  procession  appear  five  women,  as  if  to  emphasize 
the  fact  that  the  Coming  One  was  to  be  "  born  of  a 
woman"  (Gal.  4:4).  Again  and  again  appears  "the 
bar  sinister"  upon  the  escutcheon  of  this  royal  line,  show- 
ing the  curse  which  He  had  voluntarily  assumed ;  three 
of  these  women  are  under  a  cloud  of  shame. 

At  length  the  promise  made  so  long  before  to  Abraham 
is  fulfilled, — "  I  will  bless  thee  .  .  .  and  be  thou  a 
blessing  and  I  will  bless  them  that  bless  thee  .  .  . 
and  in  thee  shall  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be  blessed  " 
(Gen.  12  :  23).  "The  father  of  a  multitude  of  nations 
have  I  made  thee  "  (Gen.  17  :  5).  "  In  thy  seed  shall  <i// 
the  nations  of  the  earth  be  blessed  "  (Gen.  22  :  18). 


His  Preparation — As  King  27 

The  promise  to  David  is,  likewise,  to  be  fulfilled,  **  I 
will  set  up  thy  seed  after  thee  .  .  .  and  I  will  estab- 
lish the  throne  of  His  kingdom  forever  "  (2  Sam.  7  :  1 2,  13 ; 
Psalm  89  :  4).  In  the  Annunciation  to  Mary,  this  promise 
is  specifically  recalled,  *'  Thou  shalt  conceive  in  thy  womb 
and  bring  forth  a  Son  and  shalt  call  His  name  Jesus,"  and 
*'  The  Lord  God  shall  give  unto  Him  the  throne  of  His 
father  David  !  "  and  '*  He  shall  reign  over  the  House  of 
Jacob  forever,  and  of  His  kingdom  there  shall  be  no  end  " 
(no  frontier.  Luke  i :  32).  Since  the  first  part  of  this 
prophecy  has  been  fulfilled  literally,  is  it  not  reasonable  to 
expect  that  the  latter  shall  be  no  less  literally  fulfilled  ? 

Fourth  Day — His  Birth  (i  :  18-25). 

"  Cold  on  His  cradle  the  dew-drops  are  shining, 
Low  lies  His  head  with  the  beasts  of  the  stall, 
Angels  adore  Him,  in  slumber  reclining, 
Maker  and  Monarch  and  Saviour  of  all." 

Before  the  mystery  of  the  Incarnation  we  well  may  pause 
with  bated  breath,  beholding  the  Son  of  God  become  the 
Son  of  Man,  in  order  that  we  the  sons  of  men,  may  become 
the  sons  of  God.  Can  even  the  cross  of  Calvary  be  re- 
garded as  more  marvellous  than  the  manger  of  Bethlehem  ? 

The  Incarnation  transcends  all  human  thinking,  but  it 
is  incredible  only  to  him  who  leaves  God  out  altogether. 
Every  birth  is  a  miracle ;  not  one  can  be  fully  accounted 
for.  The  conception  of  the  Christ  is  the  supreme  miracle 
of  its  class  and  this  is  only  what,  in  the  very  nature  of  the 
case,  was  to  have  been  expected.  Yet  it  has  been  said 
that  "for  God  to  bring  a  Saviour  into  the  world  by  any 
other  than  the  gateway  of  natural  birth,  would  constitute 
the  despair  of  God."     Rather  did  man's  despair  of  ever 


28  The  Messiah 

seeing  a  Saviour  come  in  the  natural  course,  become  God's 
opportunity  to  bring  in  a  better  hope  by  His  own  super- 
natural way.  And,  to  the  end  of  time,  the  same  super- 
natural power  of  the  Spirit  of  God  which  operated  in  Mary 
to  produce  the  body  of  our  Lord,  works  in  the  soul  of  the 
believer,  to  produce  the  new  birth. 

The  name  given  to  the  Son  of  God  by  which  He  should 
be  known  on  earth  could  not  but  be  selected  with  reference 
to  its  significance.  Jesus  (Luke  2  :  21),  the  Greek  equiva- 
lent of  the  Hebrew  "Joshua,"  signifies  that  Jehovah  is 
the  Saviour  for  all.  "Christ"  is  the  Greek  equivalent 
of  the  Hebrew  word  "  Messiah,"  the  Anointed  Servant  of 
God.  "  Immanuel  "  (Isaiah  7:14),"  God  with  us,"  is  the 
broad  term  that  covers  the  meaning  of  both  of  these  terms. 

Fifth  Day.— Royal  Homage  and  a  Royal  Rival  (2). 

"  Kings  from  a  far  land,  draw  near  and  behold  Him, 
Led  by  the  star  whose  brightness  bade  ye  come  ; 
Your  crowns  cast  down,  with  robe  royal  enfold  Him, 
Your  King  descends  to  earth  from  brighter  home." 

It  was  part  of  the  divine  plan  that  the  Christ  should  be 
born  in  royal  David's  City,  as  Micah  had  foretold  (Micah 
5  :  2),  more  than  700  years  before.  And  towards  this  far- 
off  divine  event,  everything  converged  with  undeviating 
precision.  Around  the  cradle  of  the  Christ  there  were 
gathered  the  representatives  of  all  classes,  not  alone  the 
unlettered  shepherds,  but,  likewise,  the  literati,  not  only 
men  of  the  Chosen  People  who  "were  intrusted  with  the 
oracles  of  God"  (Rom.  3  :  2),  the  "living  oracles"  (Acts 
7  :  38),  but  also  those  who  represented  the  ethnic  religions 
of  the  Orient,  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews.  Indeed  they  who 
were  not  of  Israel,  were  to  be  the  first  to  worship  Him  who 


His  Preparation — As  King  29 

was  to  "reign  over  the  House  of  Jacob  forever"  (Luke 
I  :  ^^').  Around  the  cradle  of  the  Christ  was  gathered 
the  first  Parliament  of  Religions. 

God  has  many  methods  of  communicating  with  men. 
To  the  simple  Jewish  shepherds,  *'  an  angel  of  the  Lord  " 
appears  with  explicit  announcement  of  the  time  and  place 
of  the  Saviour's  advent  (Luke  2:9);  to  **  the  wise  men 
from  the  East,"  who  are  without  a  written  revelation,  He 
speaks,  at  first,  through  the  medium  of  nature,  by  '*  the 
star"  (Matt.  2:2);  and,  later,  when,  following  the  light 
of  nature,  they  have  been  led  to  the  clearer  light  of  reve- 
lation, God  comes  closer  and  speaks  to  them  ''  in  a  dream  " 
(Matt.  2:12);  to  Herod,  whose  spiritual  faculties  are 
atrophied  by  disuse,  guidance  can  be  given  only  indirectly 
through  the  agency  of  priests  and  scribes  (verses  4-6) ;  to 
these  who  have  the  Scriptures  and  study  them,  light  comes 
through  the  prophet  (verse  5) ;  to  Joseph,  '*  the  Lord  ap- 
peareth  .  .  .  in  a  dream  "  (verse  13).  But  it  is  our 
greater  privilege  and  responsibility  to  stand  upon  the 
shoulders  of  all  these;  "we  have  a  yet  more  sure  word  of 
prophecy  "  (2  Peter  i  :  19),  for  "God,  having  of  old  time 
spoken  unto  the  fathers  in  the  prophets,  hath  at  the  end  of 
these  days  spoken  unto  us  in  His  Son"  (Heb.  1:1). 
"He  left  not  Himself  without  witness"  (Acts  14  :  17), 
even  among  those  to  whom  no  written  revelation  has  been 
given.  Whether  objectively,  through  nature  (verse  2), 
through  ecclesiastical  channels  (verse  4),  through  the 
Scriptures  (verse  5),  or  subjectively,  through  mental  proc- 
ess, by  dream  when  asleep  or  by  the  reason  when  awake, 
the  fact  remains  as  Jesus  puts  it,  "  no  man  cometh  unto 
the  Father  but  by  Af^  "  (John  14  :  6). 

They  who  had  least  advantage  to  start  with,  outdistanced 
all  the  rest.     The  "  wise  men  from  the  East  "  brought  to 


30  The  Messiah 

the  King  "gifts"  richer  far  than  any  that  are  included  in 
the  inventory  of  ''their  treasures,"  Rarer  than  "gold, 
and  frankincense  and  myrrh  "  are  the  spiritual  endowments 
of  men  gifted  as  were  these  ;  (i)  They  brought  spiritual 
insight  such  as  few  of  those  around  them  could  at  all  ap- 
preciate. While  others  with  eyes  bent  down  were  ab- 
sorbed in  the  pursuit  of  pleasure  or  the  greedy  quest  of  gain, 
the  eyes  of  the  "  wise  "  were  searching  the  heavens.  And 
they  saw  "the  star"  when  it  appeared,  because  they  had 
eyes  to  see ;  blessed  were  their  eyes,  for  they  saw. 

(2)  They  had  3\so  persistence  in  pursuit  of  Truth.  In 
that  day  when  steam  and  electricity  were  not  yet  dreamed  of, 
it  was  not  easy  to  essay  so  long  and  arduous  a  journey, 
over  river  and  desert  from  their  far  off  homes.  These 
were  they  who  hitched  their  chariots  to  a  star.  They  were 
dauntless  pioneers.  And  because  westward  the  Star  of 
Bethlehem  led  the  way,  ever  since 

«  Westward  the  Star  of  Empire  holds  its  sway." 

(3)  Obedience  to  the  light  that  they  had,  brought  them 
to  clearer  light.  At  first  they  had  only  the  light  of  Nature, 
but  as  they  followed  the  gleam  of  the  Star,  they  came  to 
the  clearer  light  of  revelation.  There  is  no  conflict 
between  science  and  religion,  rightly  interpreted.  The 
two  unite  in  leading  to  "the  Light  of  the  World."  The 
world  of  God's  creation  and  the  Word  of  His  Revelation 
are  two  volumes  of  one  great  work  of  God.  "  The  Star  " 
led  to  "the  prophet."  When  "the  wise  men"  went  on 
to  obey  the  clearer  light,  "  lo,  the  Star  which  they  had 
seen  in  the  East,  went  before  them,  until  it  came  and  stood 
over  where  the  young  child  was  "  (verse  9). 

All  this  took  time,  as  well  as  effort.  From  the  day 
when  the  Star  first  appeared,  months  must  have  elapsed 


His  Preparation — As  King  31 

ere  the  men  from  the  East  at  length  arrived  at  Bethlehem. 
The  presentation  in  the  Temple  when  He  was  forty  days 
old  (Luke  2:22,  Lev.  12:6)  had  undoubtedly  taken  place 
previously,  for  after  the  departure  of  the  wise  men  there 
was  no  opportunity  for  this  before  the  flight  into  Egypt. 
Hence  it  is  unlikely  that  the  wise  men  found  him  in  the 
temporary  shelter  of  the  manger,  as  represented  oftentimes 
in  art. 

One  gloomy  figure  darkens  the  picture  which  otherwise 
would  be  so  bright.  This  Herod,  descended  from  an  in- 
famous line  of  Asmonean  princes,  is  the  first  of  four  men 
bearing  the  same  name  who  appear  upon  the  pages  of  the 
New  Testament : 

(i)  Herod  the  Great  (or  "the  king  ")  who  is  chiefly 
infamous  because  of  the  Slaughter  of  the  Innocents  (Matt. 
2;  Luke  i);  (2)  Herod  Antipas  (or  the  Tetrarch),  the 
second  son  of  Herod  the  Great,  who  beheaded  John  the 
Baptist  (Matt.  14,  Mark  7,  Luke  3,  9,  Acts  13  :  i);  (3) 
Herod  Agrippa  I,  grandson  of  Herod  the  Great  and 
nephew  of  Herod  Antipas,  who  killed  James  the  Apostle 
(Acts  12);  (4)  Herod  Agrippa  II,  before  whom  Paul 
made  his  defense  at  Caesarea  (Acts  26).  The  unreason- 
able and  merciless  jealousy  which  Herod  the  Great  showed 
towards  Jesus  can  be  accounted  for  only  by  the  despicable 
meanness  of  this  capricious  despot.  The  slaughter  of  the 
infants  of  Bethlehem,  recorded  by  Matthew  only,  is  quite 
in  line  with  other  acts  of  Herod,  that  are  attested  by 
secular  historians. 


Sixth  Day.— The  Forerunner  and  the  Anointing  of 
the  King  (3). 
It  was  fitting  that  the  coming  of  the  King  should  be 


32  The  Messiah 

announced  by  a  forerunner  who  would  appear  in  the  spirit 
and  power  of  Elijah  (Mai.  4  :  5  with  Matt.  3  :  3)  to  pre- 
pare the  way  before  Him  (Is.  40  :  3  with  Matt.  3:3). 
For,  like  Elijah,  John 

(i)  Lived  the  simple  life,  in  solitude  (Matt.  3  :  1-4; 
cf.  I  Kings  1 7  :  2-6)  ; 

(2)  Was  in  intimate  touch  with  Jehovah  (Mark  1:2; 
I  Kings  17:  1,8); 

(3)  Had  the  ear  of  the  people  (Matt.  3:5); 

(4)  Fearlessly  rebuked  sin,  in  high  as  well  as  low 
(Matt.  3 :  7,  8;  14:  4;  cf.  I  Kings  18  :  18). 

The  self-effacement  of  John  is  reflected  in  statements 
such  as  these : 

"  There  cometh  one  after  me,  the  latchet  of  whose  shoes 
I  am  not  worthy  to  unloose  "  (Matt.  3 :  11) ; 

**  I  have  need  to  be  baptized  of  Thee,  and  comest  Thou 
to  me?"  (Matt.  3  :  14); 

"  He  must  increase,  and  I  must  decrease  "  (John  3  :  30). 

It  was  fitting  that  as  the  kings  and  priests  of  old  were 
anointed  on  entering  upon  office,  there  should  be  some 
such  sign  when  He  who  was  to  be  both  priest  and  king 
should  make  His  public  appearance.  And  the  simple 
ceremony  chosen  was  one  which  ever  after  should  be 
shared  by  each  one  entering  into  the  privileges  and  respon- 
sibilities of  the  ''kingdom  of  priests  unto  God"  (Rev. 
1:6).  Our  Lord  adopted  baptism  as  an  ordinance  which 
was  easily  possible  for  all  men  everywhere,  symbolizing, 
on  man's  part,  the  putting  away  of  all  uncleanness,  and, 
on  God's  part,  the  imparting  of  the  divine  nature. 


Seventh  Day.— The  Testing  of  the  King  (4). 

"  It  became  Him  for  whom  are  all  things  and  through 


His  Preparation — As  King  33 

whom  are  all  things,  in  bringing  many  sons  into  glory,  to 
make  the  author  of  their  salvation  perfect  through  suffer- 
ings" (Heb.  2:  10).  It  was  essential,  in  order  to  His 
complete  consecration  into  the  office  of  King,  that  He 
should  Himself:  (i)  Be  conscious  of  all  that  is  involved 
in  a  world  of  sin;  (2)  That  He  should  Himself  en- 
counter and  overcome  the  Adversary;  (3)  That  He 
should  thus  demonstrate  the  divine  method  of  establishing 
the  Kingdom. 

He  was  to  run  the  entire  gauntlet  of  temptation.  This 
was  no  sham-fight,  but  a  real  life  and  death  struggle, 
grappling  with  the  Prince  of  the  Power  of  the  Air : 

(i)  The  point  of  the  first  attack  is  on  the  lower  plane 
of  physical  necessities  for  the  sustenance  of  the  animal  life, 
'nhe  lust  of  the  flesh";  the  real  brunt  of  this  assault, 
however,  has  to  do  with  faith  in  the  faithfulness  of  the 
Father.  It  is  essentially  a  temptation  to  distrust,  to  abuse 
a  sacred  trust,  to  take  things  into  His  own  hands,  to  save 
His  life,  and  in  so  doing  to  lose  it  and,  likewise,  the  life 
of  all  the  world.  Jesus  was  just  entering  on  His  public 
career.  The  visions  of  the  future  which  were  unfolding 
were  no  mere  idle  day-dreams,  but  a  soul-stirring  view  of 
His  life-work,  the  loftiest  ideal  the  world  had  ever  known, 
extending  on  to  Calvary  and  beyond.  He  was  even  more 
a  man  than  other  holy  men  of  whom  similar  experiences 
are  recorded,  even  farther  withdrawn  in  His  spiritual 
humanity  from  the  outer  region  of  His  physical  nature. 
He  was  in  a  position,  not  of  His  own  choice,  where  He  could 
get  no  food;  "the  Spirit  driveth  Him  forth  into  the 
wilderness"  (Mark  i :  13).  And,  when  He  had  come  to 
the  utmost  limit  of  human  endurance,  when  He  realized 
that  He  was  actually  dying  of  starvation,  then  in  the  hour 
of  utmost  exhaustion  and  deathly  sinking,  came  the  sug- 


34  The  Messiah 

gestion  of  Satan,  that  this  was  hardly  the  state  in  which 
one  might  expect  the  Son  of  God  to  be.  Does  He  not,  in 
fact,  rather  appear  to  be  a  very  mortal  sort  of  man  in  ex- 
tremely poor  circumstances  ?  If  He  is  to  be  recognized  as 
divine,  is  it  not  quite  reasonable  to  ask  for  some  proof  ? 
As  in  the  earlier  history  of  His  race  (Ex.  i6  :  15),  God 
had  supplied  bread  supernaturally,  would  it  not  be  well 
now  to  take  some  of  these  '*  bread  stones  "  (silicious  accre- 
tions resembling  loaves  )  and  spread  a  table  for  Him- 
self here  in  the  wilderness  ?  The  apparent  good  in  this, 
would  be :  (a)  to  save  His  life,  (b)  to  prevent  His  mis- 
sion from  proving  a  failure,  (c)  to  prove  His  untried 
powers,  and  (d)  to  satisfy  others,  as  well  as  Himself,  as  to 
His  deity.  But  the  real  evil  would  be :  (a)  to  show  doubt 
of  God's  providence,  (b)  to  abuse  a  sacred  trust  by  em- 
ploying divine  power  for  personal  ends,  {c)  to  cut  Himself 
off  from  human  conditions,  making  Himself  less  the  Son  of 
Man,  in  order  to  prove  Himself  the  Son  of  God. 

(2)  The  second  assault  is  from  another  side  altogether ; 
appeal  is  now  to  "the  lust  of  the  eye."  This  temptation 
is  to  presumption ;  the  appeal  is  to  the  intellect.  Satan 
has  failed,  but  he  is  not  foiled.  He  will  profit,  if  possible, 
by  the  experience.  He  will  take  Jesus  on  his  own  premises 
and  press  to  the  opposite  extreme.  Satan,  too,  can  quote 
Scripture.  The  first  suggestion  was  a  mistake,  Satan  now 
sees ;  absolute  dependence  upon  God  is  undoubtedly  the 
secret  of  life.  Take  this  better  basis,  then,  and  make 
a  fresh  and  proper  experiment.  There  is  the  promise 
(Ps.  91  :  11)  :  "He  shall  give  His  angels  charge  concern- 
ing thee,  and  on  their  hands  they  shall  bear  thee  up,  lest 
haply  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone,"  The  temple  is 
the  centre  of  attraction  towards  which  all  eyes  are  turned. 
The  people  are  looking  for  the  Messiah.     Their  appetite  for 


His  Preparation — As  King  35 

the  marvellous  is  well  known.  What  shorter  cut  could  there 
be  to  the  throne,  than  for  Jesus  to  go  to  the  Temple  at  the 
hour  of  the  daily  sacrifice,  when  all  eyes  are  turned 
thither,  and  from  the  topmost  point,  fling  Himself  down, 
relying  upon  God  to  reverse  His  law  and  land  Him  safely 
on  the  ground?  The  apparent  good  in  this  would  be; 
(a)  to  show  absolute  confidence  in  God,  even  at  the  risk 
of  His  life,  (^)  to  win  His  way  to  the  confidence  of  men, 
and  thus  the  more  quickly  attain  His  end.  But  the  real 
evil  of  it  would  be :  (ci)  to  show  presumption,  instead  of 
faith,  testing  God,  instead  of  trusting  His  Word ;  {b)  to 
violate  the  natural  law  of  gravitation ;  (^)  to  contravene 
the  prophecy,  that  the  crown  should  be  reached  by  way  of 
the  Cross. 

(3)  The  final  attack  is  a  bolder  stroke  with  audacious 
daring,  appeahng  to  <'the  pride  of  Hfe  "  and  alluring  to 
a7Jibition.  It  invades  the  realm  of  the  Spirit  and  deals 
with  "worship."  The  adversary  stakes  all  in  a  last  move 
of  desperation.  He  is  not  so  clumsy,  however,  as  to  make 
a  bald  request  for  homage;  he,  now,  with  skillful  cunning, 
works  on  the  imagination,  unfolding  in  a  moment  of  time 
a  panorama  of  the  kingdoms  of  this  world.  It  is  the  pur- 
pose of  Jesus  to  establish  a  universal  kingdom.  On  the 
one  hand,  the  wealth,  the  pomp,  the  power  of  the  nations ; 
on  the  other  hand,  the  poverty,  the  sickness,  the  misery 
of  the  race.  Armies,  navies,  treasuries,  all  are  under  the 
control  of  the  Prince  of  the  power  of  the  air  (Eph.  2:2). 
All  shall  be  at  the  absolute  command  of  the  Christ,  if  only 
He  will  acknowledge  the  Prince  of  this  world  (John  12:  31; 
14:  30;  16:  11).  The  apparent  good  in  what  is  proposed, 
is  :  {a)  to  save  time,  avoiding  the  weary  centuries  of  delay 
due  to  the  disobedience  of  the  church,  {b)  to  avoid  the 
Cross,  obviating  Gethsemane  and  Calvary.     The  real  evil 


36  The  Messiah 

would  be  :  (a)  to  put  faith  in  a  promise  which  was  a  lie, 
and  which  would  not  be  fulfilled,  even  if  it  could  be; 
(^)  to  contradict  the  great  first  law  of  the  spiritual  king- 
dom, that  <*  he  that  loseth  his  life  shall  find  it." 

Thus,  the  attack  is  made  in  turn,  on  the  plane  of  the 
physical,  the  intellectual  and  the  spiritual,  but  nowhere  is 
there  found  a  vulnerable  point  in  the  armour  of  Jesus. 

The  whole  ordeal  is  strikingly  like,  in  its  method,  to 
that  to  which  the  first  Adam  was  subjected,  although  so 
different  in  its  outcome.  In  the  former,  <'the  lust  of  the 
flesh"  is  appealed  to  by  that  which  is  *<good  for  food" 
(Gen.  3:  6),  in  this  case,  "stones  made  bread"  (Matt. 
4:3);  "the  lust  of  the  eye,"  in  the  former,  is  suggested 
by  that  which  is  "a  delight  to  the  eyes"  (Gen.  3 :  6),  in 
this,  by  the  suggestion  of  a  spectacular  display,  "cast  thy- 
self down"  (Matt.  4:6);  "the  pride  of  life"  in  the 
former,  "Ye  shall  be  as  gods"  (Gen.  3  :  5),  in  this  by 
the  promise  "  All  these  will  I  give  thee  "  (Matt.  4:9).  In 
each  case  the  Adversary  begins  by  insinuating  a  doubt :  in 
the  former,  "Hath  God  said?"  (Gen.  3:  i),  here  "If." 
In  each  case,  an  interpolation  is  added  to  the  Word :  in 
the  former,  "Neither  shall  ye  touch  it"  (Gen.  3  :  3),  in 
this,  "At  any  time"  or  "haply"  (Matt.  4  :6,  cf.  Ps. 
91  :  II,  12). 

The  outcome  is  vastly  different :  in  the  former,  every 
gateway  to  the  soul  is  captured,  as  one  sense  after  another 
is  seized  by  the  Tempter's  power,  while  human  reason  reels 
before  his  assaults ;  in  this  case,  one  weapon  of  defense 
only  is  employed  and  that  the  Sword  of  the  Spirit.  With 
the  decisive  answer  each  time,  "It  is  written,"  a  sharp 
two-edged  blade  is  drawn  from  the  scabbard  of  the  book 
of  Deuteronomy. 


His  Preparation — As  King  37 

POINTS  FOR  REVIEW 

STUDY  II 

HIS  PREPARATION  AS  KING 

First  Day. — Prophecy  Fulfilled. 
His  Nature  and  Names. 

In  what  two  aspects,  mainly,  is  the  Messiah  presented?  Give 
references. 

Which  of  these  has  been  most  emphasized  by  the  Jew  ?  Which 
by  the  Christian  ? 

What  was  foretold  as  to  His  Nature  ?     His  Names  ? 

Second  Day. — Prophecy  Fulfilled. 
His  Offices. 

What  offices  are  combined  in  the  Christ  ?  Give  the  principal 
predictions. 

How  are  these  offices  related  to  one  another  ? 

Third  Day.— His  Pedigree  (i  :  1-17). 

How  does  the  genealogy  according  to  Matthew  differ  from  that  of 
Luke  ?     Why  ?     (Luke  3  :  22-38). 

What  evidence  of  divine  design  appears  in  this  history  ? 

Test  your  knowledge  of  the  sacred  history  by  stating  in  a  sentence, 
each,  what  you  know  of  those  named. 

What  women  are  mentioned  and  why  these  particularly  ? 

What  links  are  left  out  of  the  chain  of  the  genealogy?  See 
2  Kings  8 :  25  ;  2  Chron.  22  :  i ;  2  Kings  12  :  21  ;  23  :  34 ;  2  Chron. 

36:4. 

What  promise  to  Abraham  is  now  fulfilled  ?     What  to  David  ? 

Fourth  Day.— His  Birth  (i  :  18-25). 

What  prophecies  were  fulfilled  in  His  birth  ? 
Why  born  in  Bethlehem  ? 
Why  named  Jesus  ? 


38 


The  Messiah 


Fifth  Day. — Royal  Homage  and  a  Royal  Rival  (2  :  I -23). 

"What  classes  were  represented  at  Bethlehem  ? 

What  various  methods  of  communication  does  God  employ  with 
various  men  ?     What  their  comparative  value  ? 

What  "  gifts  "  did  the  wise  men  bring  other  than  those  explicitly 
named  ? 

How  was  the  Herod  here  mentioned  related  to  the  others  named 
in  the  Scriptures? 

Sixth  Day. — The  Forerunner  and  the  Anointing  of  the  King. 
(3:1-17). 

Give  the  passages  which  identify  John  as  the  Second  Elijah. 
In  what  respects  were  the  two  alike  ? 

What  event  marked  the  entry  of  Jesus  upon  His  public  life  ? 
What  signified  by  the  ceremony  ? 

Seventh  Day. — The  Testing  of  the  King  (4  :  l-l  I ). 

What  object  accomplished  by  the  Temptation  ? 

What  the  point  of  the  first  attack  ?     The  second  ?     The  third  ? 

Give  the  gist  of  each  in  your  own  words.  The  apparent  good 
and  the  real  evil  involved  in  each  ?  Compare  with  the  temptation 
of  the  first  Adam,  showing  resemblances  and  contrasts.  What 
weapon  employed  ? 


STUDY  III 

HIS  PROGRAM  AS  PROPHET 

The  New  Man,  (j. :  12-s  :  16) 

First  Day. — His  Plan  and  Associates  (4  :  1 2-25). 

««  Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in  the  counsel  of  the  wicked. 
Nor  standeth  in  the  way  of  sinners, 
Nor  sitteth  in  the  seat  of  scoffers  : 
But  ill  the  law  of  Jehovah  is  his  delight 
And  on  His  law  doth  he  muse  by  day  and  by  night. 
And  so  becomes  like  a  tree  deep-planted  by  the  water-trenches, 
That  bringeth  forth  its  fruit  in  its  season, 
Whose  foliage  also  doth  not  fade. 
And  whatsoever  he  doeth,  he  successfully  carries  it  through." 

At  last  the  King  has  come.  The  decisive  battle  of  the 
wilderness  has  been  fought  and  won.  The  great  work  of 
bringing  in  the  kingdom  is  now  about  to  be  begun  in  the 
comparatively  free  air  of  the  north  country.  Over  the 
Galilean  hills  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  is  rising  with 
healing  in  His  wings.  Before  He  can  be  acknowledged 
King,  He  must  first  fill  the  office  of  Prophet,  proclaiming 
the  principles  of  the  Kingdom  and  gathering  the  subjects 
who  are  to  hail  Him  King.  "  From  that  time  began  Jesus 
to  preach"  (4:  17):  this  formula  marks  a  new  point  of 
departure  in  the  development  of  this  book.  With  no  un- 
certain sound  the  key-note  of  the  Kingdom  rings  out.  It 
is  identically  the  same  as  the  Forerunner  had  announced 
(2  :  2) :  ^^  Repent  ye :  for  the  Kingdom  of  heaven  is  at 
handy     Could  anything  be  simpler  or  clearer  or  more 

39 


40  The  Messiah 

direct  and  comprehensive  ?    Great  moral  issues  are  raised 
and  on  these  lines  a  new  era  is  to  be  ushered  in. 

He  now  selects  the  first  of  that  inner  circle  that  is  to  be 
trained  for  leadership  in  the  great  undertaking ;  "  Come 
ye  after  Me"  (4:  19)  is  the  Great  Invitation,  to  which 
later  on,  after  He  has  Himself  shown  the  way,  is  to  be 
added  the  Great  Commission,  *'  Go ye^^  (28:  19).  The 
two  indicate  the  fundamental  forces  of  the  Spiritual  King- 
dom :  the  Centripetal,  " Come "  ;  the  Centrifugal,  "Go." 
Now  He  proceeds  to  indicate  the  process  (4 :  23)  which  is 
to  be  pursued  in  bringing  in  the  Kingdom:  "teaching" 
(the  mind)  .  .  .  "preaching"  (to  the  spirit)  .  .  . 
"healing"  (the  body).  His  work  touches  life  on  every 
side — the  intellectual,  the  spiritual,  the  physical.  The 
Gospel  is  for  the  whole  man :  nothing  short  of  that  will 
meet  the  case.  Jesus'  plan  of  making  the  Kingdom  is  by 
making  the  New  Man,  then  multiplying  him.  This 
New  Man  is  the  unit  of  the  new  Kingdom — "  a  new  crea- 
ture in  Christ  Jesus"  (2  Cor.  5:  17).  He  makes  men 
children  of  God,  and  thus  He  constitutes  the  Kingdom. 


Second  Day. — Introduction  to  the  King's  Manifesto 
(5:  1,2). 

On  entering  upon  the  "teaching"  office,  the  Prophet 
utters  the  initial  word  of  the  Kingdom  in  the  Great  State 
paper,  which  is  sometimes  inadequately  described  as  "  the 
Sermon  on  the  Mount." 

This  prophet  is  more  than  a  prophet ;  He  is  also  King. 
He  is  come  not  to  found  a  school,  but  a  Kingdom ;  not  to 
be  a  mere  teacher,  but  a  sovereign,  too.  His  claim  upon 
His  disciples  is  not  that  of  a  philosopher  presenting  the 
conclusions  of  speculative  thought,  but  of  the  Lord  of  Life. 


His  Program  As  Prophet  41 

He  claims  not  only  to  teach  the  truth,  but  to  be  the  Truth, 
at  once  the  revelation  and  the  Revealer.  "  I  am  .  .  . 
the  Truth"  (John  14:  6).  His  formula  is  not,  "Thus 
saith  the  Lord,"  but  "Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you" 
(John  I  :  51).  Never  before  or  since  has  any  such  stupen- 
dous claim  been  made  by  any  man.  Jesus  cannot  be 
compared  with  any  other.  He  occupies  a  position  abso- 
lutely unique  and  incomparable. 

As  He  sets  out  now  to  establish  His  Kingdom,  with  grand 
though  simple  dignity  He  chooses  for  His  seat  "  a  moun- 
tain " — a  massive  chair  of  adamant,  compared  with  which 
the  British  Coronation  Chair,  with  its  "Stone  of  Scone," 
seems  but  a  petty  toy.  And  there  with  the  high  arch  of 
heaven  for  His  canopy,  with  the  multitude  flocking  about 
Him  and  hanging  on  His  words,  with  His  little  body-guard 
of  disciples  standing  as  courtiers  by  His  side,  this  kingly 
Christ  is  '*set  "(even  as  "the  Kings  of  the  earth  set  them- 
selves ")  and  proceeds  to  lay  down  the  basis  of  His  everlast- 
ing Kingdom  of  "  righteousness  and  peace  and  joy  "  (Rom. 
14 :  17)  that  is  to  be  established  within  the  hearts  of  men 
everywhere. 

Embodying  the  fundamental  principles  upon  which  His 
Kingdom  is  to  be  administered,  this  great  Manifesto  of  the 
King  may  be  summed  up  in  this  thesis : 

The  New  Man  (5  :  1-16)  under  The  New  Law  (17-48) 
lives  The  New  Life  (chaps.  7,8). 

In  the  first  section,  is  unfolded  the  process  of  the  evolu- 
tion of  the  New  Man.  Where  can  be  found  a  better 
definition  of  a  true  evolution  than  that  which  Jesus  Him- 
self gives  (Mark  4 :  28)  :  "  First  the  blade ^  then  the  ear 
and  then  the  full  corn  in  the  ear  "  But  in  His  view 
there  is  no  "missing  link."  Before  "the  blade,"  He 
postulates    the  seed,   "Except  a  corn  of  wheat  fall  into 


42  The  Messiah 

the  ground  and  die,  it  abideth  alone,  but  if  it  die,  it  bring- 
eth  forth  much  fruit"  (John  12:  24).  And  before  the 
corn  of  wheat,  the  seed.  He  postulates  an  intelligent  and 
omnipotent  First  Cause,  the  Lord  of  Life,  "I  give 
.  .  .  eternal  life"  (John  10:  28);  yea  "1  am  the 
.  .  .  Life"  (John  11  :  25).  ''All  things  were  made 
by  Him  and  without  Him  was  not  anything  made  that  was 
made.  .  .  .  In  Him  was  Life  "  (John  i  :  1-4).  ''As 
the  Father  hath  Life  in  Himself,  so  hath  He  given  to  the  Son 
to  have  Life  in  Himself"  (John  5  :  26);  "  Even  as  thou 
hast  given  Him  power  over  all  flesh,  that  he  should  give 
eternal  life  to  as  many  as  thou  hast  given  Him.  And  this 
is  life  eternal,  that  they  might  know  Thee  the  only  true 
God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  Thou  hast  sent"  (John 
17:  2,3).  While  atheistic  evolution  has  got  no  farther 
than  "In  the  beginning,"  the  evolution  of  Jesus  has  a 
complete  Book  of  Genesis:  "In  the  beginning  was  the 
Word  and  the  Word  was  with  God  and  the  Word  was  God  " 
(John  1:1). 

A  casual  reader  of  the  "Beatitudes"  might  make  the 
mistake  of  supposing  them  to  be  disconnected  proverbs  or 
promises  which,  like  a  string  of  pearls,  may  be  restrung 
without  breaking  the  thread  of  thought  or  doing  violence 
to  any  vital  connection.  But,  far  from  this,  even  the 
transposition  of  verses  four  and  five  (as  indicated  in  the 
margin  of  the  more  accurate  Revised  Version)  makes  a 
discord  which  jars  upon  the  careful  Bible  student.  The 
thought  is  as  closely  woven  as  a  web  of  gossamer. 

Throughout  all,  there  runs  the  scarlet  thread  of  "  Right- 
eousness," appearing  in  paragraph  after  paragraph  (verses 
6,  10,  20)  and  outlining  the  pattern  of  the  whole.  The 
common  quantity  in  each  of  the  fundamental  ideas  of  this 
matchless  Address  from  the  Throne,  is  that  of  Blessedness. 


His  Program  As  Prophet  43 

With  Righteousness  in  his  heart,  this  New  Man  has  Blessed- 
ness plainly  reflected  upon  his  face.  Righteousness  is  the 
root  from  which  comes  the  fruit  of  Blessedness.  And  this 
Blessedness  is  more  than  happiness.  For  it  does  not  depend 
upon  what  happens,  but  strikes  its  roots  deep  down  into 
the  divine  will.  It  is  the  outcome  not  of  circumstances, 
but  of  character.  Acquire  the  character  of  Righteousness 
and  Blessedness  follows  inevitably.  Cause  is  not  to  be 
confounded  with  effect.  Not  he  who  seeks  blessedness, 
finds  righteousness,  but  he  who  seeks  righteousness  is 
"blessed." 

Like  the  deep  undertone  of  the  bass,  this  Blessedness 
harmonizes  with  every  note  of  the  octave,  as  note  after  note 
rises  in  the  scale — '<  poor  in  spirit,"  "meek,"  "mourn," 
"hunger  and  thirst,"  "merciful,"  "pure,"  "peace- 
makers," "  persecuted."  To  trace  out  the  process  of  the 
development  of  this  New  Man  who  is  to  be  multiplied  until 
the  New  Kingdom  is  constituted,  is  to  find  the  clew  to  all 
true  Blessedness  in  Righteousness.  And  this  open  secret  is 
unfolded  in  this  marvellous  Manifesto  of  the  King. 


Third  Day.— The  Roots  of  the  Tree  of  Life  (5  :  3-5). 
Underlying  the  whole  may  be  found  the  seed-thought 
which  appears  so  prominently  towards  the  close,  where 
(7  :  16-20)  the  word  "  tree  "  occurs  five  times  and  "  fruit  " 
seven  times,  all  within  a  dozen  lines.  It  would  seem  as 
though  the  suggestion  of  this  great  manifesto  were  taken 
from  the  first  Psalm,  which  our  Lord  had  learned  and 
loved  from  His  earliest  childhood  and  which  had  left  a 
deep  impress  on  His  whole  life.  The  core  of  it  is  in  the 
simile,  ''He  shall  be  like  a  Tree''  (Psalm  i  :  3).  And, 
does  not  a  man  indeed  resemble  a  tree,  with  his  trunk, 


44  The  Messiah 

connected  by  two  legs,  like  roots,  with  the  earth  below 
and  with  his  branches  extending  out  on  either  side,  while, 
central  between  the  two,  the  head  reaches  erect  towards 
heaven  ?  Planted  squarely  with  one  foot  in  humility 
('^  Poor  in  Spirit")  and  with  the  other  in  meekness, 
the  life  currents  flow  downward  in  mourning  because  of 
sin  and  upwards  in  yearning  after  righteousness,  while  in 
due  season  appear  on  the  one  hand  mercy  and  on  the  other 
peace,  and  all  heads  up  in  purity,  "  as  he  thinketh  within 
himself"  (Prov.  23:7).  Trace  the  unfolding  of  this 
simile  of  the  tree  in  its  several  consecutive  parts ;  at  each 
stage  there  will  be  found  to  be  a  Godward  and  a  manward 
side  towards  which  the  soul  turns.    [See  opposite  page.] 

I.  The  Roots. 

(i)      Godward: 

*'  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit ,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom 
of  heaven." 

As  a  large  part  of  a  tree  is  under  the  surface,  so  an 
important  part  of  the  life  of  the  New  Man  is,  likewise, 
unseen.  It  starts,  as  it  were,  with  a  minus  quantity  in 
reaching  the  desired  result  in  its  quest  for  righteousness. 
The  soul  on  catching  its  first  glimpse  of  God  gets  down  on 
its  face  in  the  dust.  It  is  humbled.  It  realizes  its  own 
utter  worthlessness,  its  exceeding  poverty.  At  the  creation, 
"  the  Lord  God  formed  man  of  the  dust  of  the  ground  and 
breathed  into  his  nostrils  the  breath  of  life,  and  man  be- 
came a  living  soul  "  (Gen.  2:7).  So  when  the  New  Man 
is  to  be  produced,  God  does  not  make  him  out  of  a  block 
of  marble.  He  has  no  use  for  the  hard  rock  of  self-will. 
The  "stony  heart"  (Ezek.  11  :  19)  must  first  be  reduced 
to  dust  and  out  of  such  material  as  this,  is  made  the  <*  man 
after  his  own  heart  "  (i  Sam.  13  :  14).     '<  Before  honour  is 


His  Program  As  Prophet 


45 


46  The  Messiah 

humility  "  (Prov.  15  :  ^;^).  It  was  in  this  spirit  that  Charles 
Gordon,  that  great  Christian  soldier,  shortly  before  the 
fateful  end  of  his  career  at  Khartoum,  the  Dhervish  capi- 
tal of  the  Soudan,  wrote,  ''  May  I  be  ground  to  dust,  if 
He  will  but  glorify  Himself  in  Me."  "  The  sacrifices  of 
God  are  a  broken  spirit ;  a  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  O 
God,  thou  wilt  not  despise"  (Psalm  51:17).  ''Thus 
saith  the  high  and  lofty  One  that  inhabiteth  eternity,  whose 
name  is  Holy,  I  dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place,  with 
him  also  that  is  of  a  contrite  and  humble  spirit,  to  revive 
the  spirit  of  the  humble  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  con- 
trite" (Is.  57:  15)- 

Humility  is  the  first  step  in 

«  The  great  world's  altar-stairs 
That  lead  through  darkness  up  to  God." 

There  is  no  deferred  payment  in  connection  with  this 
promise,  "Theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  This  one 
of  all  the  promises  is  put  in  the  present  tense,  even  though 
it  be  necessary  to  wait  patiently  for  the  fulfillment  of  the 
hopes  held  out  in  the  promises  that  follow.  What  shall  be, 
will  appear  in  due  season,  but  to  those  who  submit  them- 
selves to  the  king,  "theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

(2)     Manward : 

"Blessed  are  the  meek,  for  they  shall  inherit  the  earth." 

The  soul  that  is  right  in  its  attitude  towards  God,  will 
seek,  likewise,  to  be  right  with  its  fellow  men.  Meekness 
in  relation  to  men  is  the  essential  sequel  to  humility 
towards  God.  These  two  are  twin  virtues.  They  reach 
out  in  two  directions.  He  who  has  the  root  of  the  matter 
in  him,  being  made  "a  partaker  of  the  divine  nature" 
(2  Peter  i :  4),  lays  hold  of  both  "  heaven  "  and  "  earth  !  " 
The  possession  of  "  the  meekness  and  gentleness  of  Christ " 


His  Program  As  Prophet  47 

(2  Cor.  10  :  i)  in  relation  to  men,  is  the  only  conclusive 
proof  that  the  soul  is  truly  "  poor  in  spirit  "  towards  God. 
The  two  characteristics  together  mark  the  disintegration  of 
the  self-life.  The  corn  of  wheat,  dying,  no  longer  abides 
alone.     The  "  blade  "  is  about  to  appear. 


Fourth  Day.— II.  The  Shoot  or  Trunk  (5  :  4,  6). 

(i)     Earthward : 

* '  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall  be  com- 
forted." 

In  its  quest  for  righteousness,  the  soul  first  faces  earth- 
ward, and,  oppressed  with  a  sense  of  its  sin,  it  mourns. 
There  is  a  movement  now  out  of  the  merely  negative. 
The  soul  shows  signs  of  the  new  life  that  is  stirring  within. 
The  plant  that  is  pushing  its  way  up  through  the  dust  of 
humility  is  watered  by  tears  of  true  penitence.  ''  For 
godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance  unto  salvation  not  to  be 
repented  of;  but  the  sorrow  of  the  world  worketh  death. 
Behold  this  self-same  thing  that  ye  sorrow  after  a  godly 
sort.  What  carefulness  is  brought  in  you,  yea  what  clear- 
ing of  yourself,  yea  what  indignation,  yea  what  fear,  yea 
what  vehement  desire,  yea  what  zeal,  yea  what  revenge  ** 
(2  Cor.  7  :  10). 

«« I  lay  in  dust  earth's  glory  red, 
And  from  the  ground  there  blossoms  red 
Life  that  shall  endless  be." 

(2)     Heavenward : 

*'  Blessed  are  they  that  do  hunger  and  thirst  after  right- 
eousness for  they  shall  be  filled." 

By  the  power  of  an  irresistible  attraction  the  life  within 
is  now  stretching  every  fibre,  as  it  reaches  up  towards  the 


48  The  Messiah 

Sun  of  Righteousness.  The  soul  seeks  a  new  centre  of 
attraction.  Its  tendency  is  sunward,  heavenward.  It 
hungers  and  thirsts.  The  presence  of  appetite  is  the  sure 
sign  of  growing  hfe.     Yet  another  stage  is  now  at  hand. 


Fifth  Day.— III.  The  Fruits  (5  :  7-9). 

(i)     Mercy : 

*'  Blessed  are  the  merciful  ion  they  shall  obtain  mercy." 
The  search  for  righteousness  is  bringing  the  soul  within 
reach  of  its  attainment.  The  conditions  having  been  met, 
the  plant  is  about  to  bear  its  threefold  fruit :  mercy,  pur- 
ity and  peace.  Desires  are  converted  into  action.  The 
soul  gets  out  of  itself  and  becomes  absorbed  in  helping 
others.  "  What  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee,  but  to  do 
justly  and  to  love  ??iercy  and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy 
God?  "  (Mic.  6  :  8).  It  breaks  off  its  sins  by  righteous- 
ness and  its  iniquities  by  showing  mercy  to  the  poor  (Dan. 
4  :  27).  He  who  has  any  question  as  to  who  is  the  true 
neighbour  gets  the  answer  from  the  Master's  own  lips, 
"  He  that  showed  mercy  "  (Luke  10:37). 

"  The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strained. 
It  droppeth  as  the  gentle  rain  from  heaven 
Upon  the  place  beneath  :  it  is  twice  blessed  — 
It  blesseth  him  that  gives  and  him  that  takes. 
.     .     .     It  is  an  attribute  to  God  Himself; 
And  earthly  power  doth  show  likest  God 
When  mercy  seasons  justice." 

(2)     Purity : 

*'  Blessed  are  t\it  pure  in  hearty  for  they  shall  see  God.** 
Back  of  the  active  manifestation  must  be  the  inner  prin- 
ciple.    **Keep  thy  heart  above  all  that  thou  guardest; 
for  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life "  (Prov.  4 :  23).     If 


His  Program  As  Prophet  49 

mercy  is  to  be  manifested  without,  there  must  be  purity 
within.  <*  Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  Jehovah? 
.  .  .  He  that  hath  ...  a  pure  heart"  (Psalm 
24  :  3,  4).  "  Fornication  and  all  uncleanness  or  covetous- 
ness,  let  it  not  even  be  named  among  you,  as  becometh 
saints ;  nor  filthiness  nor  foolish  talking  or  jesting,  which 
are  not  befitting  "  (Eph.  5  :  3>  4).  ''  P^t  to  death,  there- 
fore, your  members  which  are  upon  the  earth :  fornication, 
uncleanness,  passion,  evil  desire"  (Col.  3  :  5).  ** What- 
soever things  are  .  .  .  pure,  think  on  these  things " 
(Phil.  4:  8).  *'Keep  thyself  pure"  (i  Tim.  5  :  22),  was 
Paul's  injunction  to  Timothy.  "Purify  your  hearts" 
(Jas.  4:8),  was  James'  counsel  to  the  scattered  tribes  of 
Israel.  The  standard  set  by  John  was  nothing  short  of 
the  spotless  purity  of  Christ,  incited  thereto  by  the  con- 
stant expectation  of  His  personal  appearing.  "  Every  one 
that  hath  this  hope  set  on  him  purifieth  himself,  even  as 
He  is  pure  "  (i  John  3  ;  3). 

(3)     Peace  : 

"  Blessed  are  the  peacemakers y  for  they  shall  be  called 
the  sons  of  God." 

Last  of  all,  comes  the  most  luscious  fruit  of  all, 
"the  peace  of  God  that  passeth  all  understanding" 
(Phil.  4:  7).  It  is  no  mere  act,  but  an  attitude,  yes 
an  atmosphere  that  is  here  referred  to.  "For  the  King- 
dom of  God  is  not  meat  and  drink,  but  righteousness 
and  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Spirit"  (Rom.  14:  17). 
"There  is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the  wicked" 
(Is.  57:  21).  But  "the  work  of  righteousness  shall  be 
peace ;  and  the  effect  of  righteousness,  quietness  and  con- 
fidence forever"  (Is.  32:  17).  This  peace  comes  as 
effect  follows  cause.  It  could  never  have  been  but  for 
"the  blood  of  His  cross"  (Col.   i:  20).     "He  is  our 


50  The  Messiah 

peace,"  who  came  and  <*  made  peace  "  and  then  <*  preached 
peace"  to  them  that  were  afar  off  and  them  that  are 
nigh"  (Eph.  2  :  14-17). 

In  the  progression  of  thought  in  the  development  of  this 
choice  cluster  of  fruits,  is  there  not  an  evident  corre- 
spondence with  the  three  degrees  of  the  prayer-life,  as  set 
forth  in  Matt.  7  :  7,  viz : 

"Ask     .     .     .     receive  "  (the  gift) — "  Obtain  mercy. " 
**Seek     .     .     .     find"  (the  Giver)— *' See  God." 
"Knock     .     .     .     opened  "  (asker  and  giver  meeting) 
— "  Called  sons  of  God  "  ? 

In  the  apostolic  benediction  these  three  are  all  com- 
bined in  an  overflowing  blessing,  "  Grace  (of  purity), 
mercy  and  peace  from  God  our  Father  and  Christ  Jesus 
our  Lord  "  (i  Tim.  i  :   2). 


Sixth  Day IV.    The  Test  of  Righteousness. 

"Blessed  are  they  that  have  httn  persecuted  {ox  ng\\\.- 
eousness  sake,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

Is  the  righteousness  real  ?  Will  the  tree  stand  the  stress 
of  the  storm  ?  Shaking  will  show.  Persecution  will  prove 
whether  the  roots  have  struck  down  deep,  whether  the 
stem  is  strong,  whether  the  fruit  is  genuine  or  only  arti- 
ficial.    "  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them  "  (Matt.  7  :  16). 

Ours  is  the  day  of  easy-going  discipleship,  but  if  one 
will  but  make  a  staunch  stand  for  righteousness,  he  will 
find  that  the  Inquisition  is  not  altogether  a  thing  of  the 
past.  The  weapons  of  the  persecutor  are  more  polished, 
but  they  are  no  less  sharp.  A  more  refined  cruelty  may 
be  practiced  with  the  tongue  than  with  the  thumb- screw 
and  the  rack.  There  may  be  many  an  occasion  still  for 
applying  the  Earl  of  Marshall's  motto,  "They  say;  let 


His  Program  As  Prophet  51 

them  say  j  I  care  not  what  they  say  !  "  Nor  is  this  bless- 
ing promised  alone  to  those  of  a  bygone  day,  but 
*'  blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall  revile  you  and  persecute 
you  and  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely,  for  my 
sake.  Rejoice  and  be  exceeding  glad  for  great  is  your 
reward  in  heaven."  The  reward  may  not  be  realized  at 
once,  but  it  is  absolutely  sure  **  in  heaven."  This  is  one 
of  the  ways  to  lay  up  treasure  where  it  cannot  be  tampered 
with.  This  is  a  promissory  note  that  matures  a  little  later, 
but  it  is  good  collateral  even  on  earth. 


Seventh  Day.— V.    The  Uses  of  Righteousness. 

(i)      Within. 

'*  Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth." 

Rights  involve  responsibilities.  Every  saved  man  is 
under  obligation  to  be  a  saviour.  But  much  of  the  in- 
fluence exerted  will  be  silent  and  unseen,  like  "salt," 
permeating  the  whole  of  the  life  with  which  he  comes  in 
contact. 

(2)      Without. 

<*  Ye  are //i<?//^/^/ of  the  world  .  .  .  a  city  .  .  . 
the  house." 

There  is  one  respect  in  which  every  true  Christian,  in 
the  very  nature  of  the  case,  is  bound  to  be  like  Christ. 
For  He  who  says,  ''I  am  the  Light  of  the  World " 
(John  8  ;  12),  hkewise  declares,  '*  Ye  are  the  light  of  the 
world  "  (Matt.  5  :  14).  The  Great  Commission  resides, 
ultimately,  not  in  certain  words  of  a  command  ;  it  is  in- 
herent in  the  very  possession  of  the  light.  "  For  ye  were 
once  darkness,  but  now  are  light  in  the  Lord :  walk  as 
children  of  light ;  for  the  fruit  of  the  light  is  in  all  goodness 
and    righteousness    and    truth "    (Eph.    5  :  8).      *'  The 


52  The  Messiah 

Christian  must  illuminate,  just  because  he  is  a  light.  Is  it 
not  significant  that  the  command  to  shine  includes  first, 
"the  world,"  then  "the  city,"  then  "the  house."  This 
is  the  divine  order.  Often  the  order  is  inverted,  forgetful 
of  the  fact,  that  while  it  is  true  that  "  the  light  that  shines 
the  farthest  shines  brightest  nearest  home,"  the  converse  is 
not  necessarily  the  case.  For  while  the  whole  includes  the 
parts,  a  part  does  not  include  the  whole;  while  "the 
world"  includes  "the  city"  and  "the  house,"  the  city 
or  house  does  not  include  "  the  world." 

The  life  that  is  like  "salt"  within  and  like  "light" 
without,  cannot  but  fulfill  the  chief  end  of  men,  to 
"  glorify  the  Father  who  is  in  heaven." 


POINTS  FOR  REVIEW 

STUDY  III 

THE  NEW  MAN 

First  Day. 

What  formula  marks  a  new  departure  in  the  development  of  the 
book  ?     At  what  other  point  does  it  occur  ? 

What  key-note  does  Jesus  sound  on  entering  upon  the  office  ot 
prophet  ? 

Second  Day. 

How  may  the  manifesto  of  the  kingdom  (Matt.  5-7)  be  briefly 
summed  up  ? 

What  does  the  first  section  cover  ? 

What  idea  is  central  throughout  this  section  ? 

What  is  the  significance  of  the  common  term  used  ? 

What  is  the  connection  between  blessedness  and  righteousness  ? 


His  Program  As  Prophet  53 

Third  Day. 

Where  is  the  embryo  of  this  great  address  to  be  found  ?  What 
the  key-words  ? 

To  what  transposition  of  verses  (4  and  5)  is  attention  called  in  the 
Revised  Version  (margin)  ? 

What  is  the  attitude  towards  God  which  the  New  Man  takes  ? 

What  towards  fellow  men  ? 

Fourth  Day. 

How  does  the  soul  indicate  its  attitude  towards  sin  ?  How  dis- 
tinguished from  other  sorrow  ? 

What  is  its  attitude  towards  righteousness  ? 

Fifth  Day. 

What  trinity  of  virtues  appears  as  the  fruits  of  righteousness  ? 
What  place  does  mercy  occupy  ?     Purity  ?     Peace  ? 
What  progression  of  thought  appears  ? 

Sixth  Day. 

What  test  of  genuineness  is  suggested  ? 

What  means  of  persecution  is  most  commonly  employed  now? 
How  best  met  ? 

Seventh  Day. 

To  what  uses  is  righteousness  to  be  put  ? 

How  does  it  act  as  "  salt "  ?  How  as  "  light  "  ?  In  what  three 
concentric  circles  ?     Note  the  significance  of  the  order  of  these. 


STUDY  IV 

HIS  PROGRAM  AS  PROPHET 

The  New  Law,  (5  ;  17-48) 

First  Day. — The  Old  Commandment  in  contrast 
with  the  New  (5  :  17-19). 

"This  do  and  thou  shalt  live,'*  is  the  high- water  mark 
of  the  ethnic  rehgions.  Even  Judaism,  the  fairest  flower 
of  them  all,  has  no  word  beyond  this.  "Live  and  thou 
wilt  do,"  is  the  sum  and  substance  of  the  message  of  Jesus. 
Every  moral  system,  other  than  Christ's,  is  a  road  whereby, 
through  self-denial,  discipline,  striving,  men  seek  to  attain 
to  bliss  in  the  end.  Whether  known  as  the  Nirvana  of  the 
Hindu  or  the  Paradise  of  the  Mohammedan  or  the 
summum  bonum  of  the  Greek  philosopher,  or  the  "  eternal 
life"  of  the  Jew,  the  end  is  to  be  attained  by  one's  own 
endeavours.  You  must  lift  yourself  up  to  heaven  by  the 
hairs  of  your  own  head.  You  must  swim  across  the  wide 
ocean  to  the  other  shore.  But  what  all  others  point  to  as  the 
goal,  Jesus  makes  the  starting  point.  They  begin  with  de- 
manding, He  with  bestowing.  "It  is  your  Father's  good 
pleasure  to  give  you  the  Kingdom  "  (Luke  12  :  32).  "I 
give  unto  them  Eternal  Life  "  (John  10  :  28). 

It  is  no  mere  system  of  metaphysics,  but  a  sublime  code 
of  ethics,  that  Christ  lays  down.  "  Think  not  that  I  came 
to  destroy  the  law  or  the  prophets  :  I  came  not  to  destroy, 
but  to  fulfill  "  (5  :  17).  Indeed  the  New  Commandment 
goes  far  beyond  the  old.  But  the  keeping  of  it  becomes  a 
consequence,  and  not  the  condition  or  cause  of  life  eternal. 
In  the  very  nature  of  the  case  eternal  life  conforms  to  the 

54 


His  Program  As  Prophet  ^^ 

eternal  law  of  the  eternal  God,  who  is  the  source  of  life. 
And  the  Law  as  revealed  to  Moses  sweeps  the  whole  circle 
of  human  relationships — to  God,  to  the  family  and  to 
neighbours,  both  far  and  near. 


Second  Day. — The  New  Commandment  fulfilling 
the  Old  (5  :  20). 

In  the  teaching  of  the  New  Testament  every  injunction 
of  the  Old  Commandment  finds  its  complement.  The 
negative  is  converted  into  positive  form.  As  is  the  Old, 
so  in  the  New  Law,  there  are  two  Tables.  The  first  in- 
cludes the  Centripetal  forces,  the  second  includes  the  Cen- 
trifugal. 

When  we  come  to  examine  the  commandments  set  forth 
by  our  Lord  in  the  Manifesto  of  the  Kingdom,  the  first 
thing  that  attracts  attention  is  the  omission  of  any  refer- 
ence whatever  to  the  First  table — which  relates  to  God — 
and,  also,  to  the  first  Commandment  of  the  second  Table, 
which  relates  to  parents.  The  reason  becomes  apparent 
when  the  standpoint  is  taken  into  account.  For  these 
commandments  contemplate  a  Kingdom  over  which  the 
King  Himself  is  to  preside  in  person.  "  For  He  must 
reign  until  He  hath  put  all  His  enemies  under  His  feet " 
(i  Cor.  15  :  25).  And  the  one  and  only  parent,  finally, 
is  to  be  **the  Father  from  whom  every  family  in  heaven 
and  on  earth  is  named  "  ( Eph.  3  :  14,  15).  "  Then  cometh 
the  end,  when  he  shall  deliver  up  the  Kingdom  to  God 
even  the  Father ;  when  he  shall  have  abolished  all  rule  and 
all  authority  and  power  "  (i  Cor.  15  :  24). 

Third  Day. 

If  the  New  Man,  who  is  the  subject  of  the  New  King- 


56  The  Messiah 

dom,  is  to  be  absolutely  right  in  his  relations  with  his  fel- 
low men,  through  and  through,  he  must  be  quite  free 
from  : 


I 


11-will  or  unkind  feeling, 
mpurity  or  unchaste  thought, 
nsincerity  or  untrue  word, 
mpatience  or  ungentle  act. 


And  his  whole  life  must  be  filled  with  love. 

(i)  No  unkind  feeling  or  ill-will  (5  .•  21-26), 
The  King  commences  at  the  core,  with  the  will.  Into 
the  innermost  recesses  of  the  heart,  where  the  springs  of 
life  have  their  source.  He  turns  on  the  searchlight.  *<  For 
out  of  the  heart  come  forth  .  .  .  murders"  (Matt. 
15  :  19).  Are  fires  of  angry  passion  smoldering  under  the 
surface,  no  matter  whether  uttered  or  unexpressed?  Is 
there  some  old  wrong  that  you  have  failed  to  set  right  and 
the  memory  of  it  tracks  your  steps  even  into  the  place  of 
prayer  ?  Let  the  light  of  God's  holy  law  be  turned  in, 
even  to  the  innermost  recesses  of  the  will,  until  the  dark- 
ness shall  have  altogether  disappeared. 


Fourth  Day. 

(2)  No  unchaste  thought  or  impurity  (5  .•  2^-32), 
After  the  will  has  been  dealt  with,  the  realm  of  the 
intellect  is  entered  next.  Let  the  light  into  thought  and 
imagination,  likewise.  Look  well  to  the  outer  gates 
through  which  suggestions  come — to  eye-gate  and  ear-gate 
and  also  to  the  sense  of  touch.  Let  no  pretext  of  legal 
permission  serve  as  an  excuse  for  infringing  the  divine  law 
of  fidelity  to  the  marriage  relation.  Spotless  white  is  the 
uniform  of  the  subjects  of  the  New  Kingdom. 


His  Program  As  Prophet  57 

Fifth  Day. 

(3)  No  untrue  wordy  or  insincerity  (5  .'33-37). 
Passing  now  from  thought  to  its  expression,  every  word 

is  to  be  absolutely  true.  No  oath  is  needed,  for  the  word 
of  the  New  Man  is  to  be  as  good  as  his  bond.  In  the 
vocabulary  of  the  New  Life,  Yea  never  means  Nay.  Ex- 
pletives are  excluded.  ''As  God  is  faithful,  our  word 
.  .  .  is  not  Yea  and  Nay.  For  the  Son  of  God,  Jesus 
Christ  .  .  .  was  not  Yea  and  Nay,  but  in  Him  is 
Yea.  For  how  many  soever  be  the  promises  of  God,  in 
Him  is  the  Yea ;  wherefore  also  in  Him  is  the  Amen  unto 
the  glory  of  God  through  us  "  (2  Cor.  i  :  18-20). 

Sixth  Day. 

(4)  No  ungentle  acty  or  impatience  (j"  :  38-42). 

As  at  the  centre  and  through  each  successive  circle,  so 
also  at  the  circumference,  in  the  sphere  of  action^  the  same 
high  standard  is  to  be  maintained.  Unfailing  gentleness  is 
required,  no  matter  how  great  provocation  there  may  be. 
He  should  even  suffer  wrongfully  rather  than  resist  and 
assert  his  rights.  If  a  false  claim  is  made  upon  that 
which  belongs  to  the  New  Man,  he  is  to  let  it  go,  rather 
than  go  to  law.  And  he  is  not  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the 
appeal  of  the  needy. 

Seventh  Day. 

(5)  No  Retaliation f  but  love  (5  .-43-48). 

There  is  one  word  which  covers  all.  *'  For  the  whole 
law  is  fulfilled  in  one  word,  even  in  this.  Thou  shalt  love 
thy  neighbour  as  thyself"  (Gal.  5  :  14).  "  If  there  be  any 
other  commandment,  it  is  summed  up  in  this  word, 
namely,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself.     Love 


58  The  Messiah 

worketh  no  ill  to  his  neighbour ;  love,  therefore,  is  the  ful- 
fillment of  the  law  "  (Rom.  13  :  9,  10). 


POINTS  FOR  REVIEW 

STUDY  IV 

THE  NEW  LAW 

First  Day. 

In  what  important  particular  does  Christianity  differentiate  itself 
from  the  non-Christian  religions  ? 

What  is  Jesus'  attitude  to  the  law  ? 

Analyze  "  the  Old  Commandment." 

Second  Day. 

Give  the  New  Testament  parallels  to  each  point  in  "  the  Old 
Commandment." 

In  the  New  Commandment,  as  given  in  the  Manifesto,  what  sig- 
nificant omissions  are  there  and  how  accounted  for  ? 

Third  Day. 

Over  what  range  does  Jesus  proceed  to  apply  the  Law  ? 
In  what  particular  first  ?     And  how  ? 

Fourth  Day. 

What  the  second  ? 

Fifth  Day. 
The  third  ? 

Sixth  Day. 
The  fourth  ? 

Seventh  Day. 
In  what  is  all  summed  up  ? 


STUDY  V 

HIS  PROGRAM  AS  PROPHET 

The  New  Life  (Chs.  6  a^id  f) 

First  Day.— Giving,  the  Initial  Grace  of  Christian 
Living  (6 :  1-4). 

While  philosophers  have  come  seeking  to  find  a  perfect 
man,  and  seeking  in  vain,  the  Saviour  comes  seeking  to 
make  a  perfect  man.  He  knew  that  there  was  none  perfect, 
no  not  one.  "The  Son  of  Man  is  come  to  seek  and  to 
save  that  which  was  lost  "  (Luke  19  :  10).  His  one 
main  aim  is  to  ''  make  all  things  new  "  (Rev.  21:5).  He 
must  first  make  a  New  Man.  This  New  Man  under  the 
New  Law  is  to  live  the  New  Life.  And  this  Life,  as  out- 
lined in  the  Manifesto  of  the  Kingdom,  involves,  in  the 
main,  two  things,  viz. :  Giving  and  Praying.  In  order  to 
give,  he  must  get ;  in  order  to  get  he  must  pray.  These 
two  are  the  hemispheres  of  the  full-orbed  Christian  life. 
Of  the  two,  Giving  is  given  first  place,  although  Praying 
is  allowed  by  far  the  greater  space. 

(i)  Giving  (6:  1-4).  ''When,  therefore,  thou  doest 
alms,  sound  not  a  trumpet  before  thee,  as  the  hypocrites 
do.  But  when  thou  doest  alms,  let  not  thy  left  hand  know 
what  thy  right  hand  doeth." 

There  are  other  points  to  be  observed  in  practicing  the 
grace  of  Giving,  but,  the  one  particular,  of  all  the  others, 
which  Jesus  seems  to  consider  of  such  primary  importance 
as  to  be  emphasized  here,  is,  that  it  must  be  "in  secret.** 
Giving  should  be  individual,  systematic  and  proportionate 

59 


6o  The  Messiah 

(2  Cor.  16:  2).  It  should  be  ''cheerful"  (2  Cor.  9:  7). 
It  should  be  done  as  an  act  of  worship  unto  God  (Ex. 
25  :  2 ;  Prov.  3:9;  Isaiah  43  :  23,  24).  But,  it  may  be 
all  this  and  yet  be  utterly  useless,  if  self  be  allowed  to  ob- 
trude. Generous,  godlike  giving  is  the  crucial  test  of 
genuine  godly  living.  "  For  God  so  loved  the  world  that 
He  GAVE  "  (John  3  :  16). 

Second  Day. — 2.  Praying  the  Complement  of 
Giving  (6  :  5-15). 

In  order  to  give,  one  must  first  receive,  and  in  order  to 
receive,  one  must  pray.  "Ask  and  ye  shall  receive" 
(Matt.  7:7).  In  the  training  of  His  disciples,  Jesus, 
while  apparently  taking  no  time  to  tell  them  how  to 
preach,  takes  infinite  pains  to  teach  them  to  pray.  And, 
hence,  it  is  not  surprising  to  find  so  large  a  portion  of 
the  treatment  of  the  New  Life  devoted  to  the  subject  of 
Praying. 

(a)  At  first  He  tells  how  to  Pray.  As  in  the  matter  of 
Giving,  so  here  again,  the  one  particular  which  He  puts 
first,  is  that  it  is  to  be  "in  secret." 

The  Model  Prayer  (6 :  7-15). 

(^)  He,  also,  tells  us  for  what  to  pray.  Not  only 
secrecy,  but  brevity  should  characterize  the  prayer  of  the 
Christian,  as  distinguished  from  all  others.  The  model 
prayer  is  at  once  concise  and  comprehensive.  Indeed, 
within  its  brief  compass,  it  embraces  every  need  of  present, 
past  and  future ;  of  body,  soul  and  spirit ;  in  relation  to 
one's  self,  to  one's  neighbour  and  to  God. 

(i)  "Bread  "  :  The  Present— Body— relating  to  one's 
self. 

(2)     "  Debt ' ' :  The  Past — Soul— relating  to  fellow  man. 


His  Program  As  Prophet 


61 


(3)  ''Temptation":  The  Future— Spirit— relating  to 
God. 

Throughout,  it  puts  God's  glory  first,  keeping  in  view 
alike  each  person  of  the  blessed  Trinity : 

(i)     ''  Hallowed  be  Thy  name  "—Father. 

(2)  ''  Thy  Kingdom  ' ' — Son. 

(3)  ''  Thy  will  be  done  "—Spirit. 

The  model  prayer  translates  the  Father's  will  into  the 
terms  of  the  Son's  wishes.  The  key-note  of  the  prayer- 
life  of  Jesus  is  "  Not  My  will,  but  Thine  be  done  "  (Luke 
22 :  42).  Is  it  conceivable  that  the  close  parallel  be- 
tween this  Model  Prayer,  which  Jesus  gave  to  the 
Church  for  all  time,  and  the  Ten  Commandments  can  be 
accidental  ?  Does  it  not  show  how  completely  our  Lord's 
mind  had  absorbed  the  Scriptures?  Jesus,  in  this  prayer, 
certainly  seems  to  be  converting 


T/te  Father's   Will      into       The  Son's  Wishes. 


(Ex.  20 :  1-17) 

1.  No  other  Gods  but  Me 

2.  No  image  on  Earth 

3.  Not  take  the  Name  in  vain 

4.  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  [the 
"  sign  "  of  the  king- 
dom   (Ex.    31  :  13; 
Ezek.  20:  19)  ] 

5.  Honour  thy  father 
(the  debt  of  the 
parent  to  provide ; 
of  the  child,  to  hon- 
our). 

6.  No  murder. 

7.  No  adultery. 

8.  No  stealing. 

9.  No  false  witness. 
10.  No  coveting. 
"I    AM    the    Lord   thy    God   who 

brought   thee  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt  "  (a  typical  kingdom) 


(Matt.  6 : 9-13) 

«  Our  Father 

Which  art  in  heaven  ; 

Hallowed  be  Thy  Name 

Thy  kingdom  come 


Give   us  this  day  our  daily 
bread 


'  Lead  us  not  into  tempta- 
tion, but 
Deliver  us  from  the  Evil 
One 

For  Thine  is  the  Kingdom  and 
the  power  and  the  glory, 
forever."  Amen. 


62  The  Messiah 

Third  Day.— Fasting,  a  Help  to  Praying  (6  :  16-18). 

There  are  certain  helps  to  prayer  and  certain  hindran- 
ces, that  are  now  taken  up,  one  after  another,  before  com- 
ing to  the  more  advanced  degree  of  intercessory  prayer 
(7:7-12).  And  the  first  of  these  is  Fasting.  Every 
appetite  of  the  flesh  that  clogs  the  free  exercise  of  the  soul 
in  prayer  is  to  be  subdued.  Fasting  consists  not  in  absti- 
nence from  food,  merely,  but  from  everything  that  pampers 
self.  Many  a  Mohammedan  to-day  fasts  during  the  day 
and  feasts  at  night.  **  Wherefore  have  we  fasted,  say 
they,  and  thou  seest  not?  Wherefore  have  we  afflicted 
our  soul  and  thou  takest  no  knowledge?  Behold  in  the 
day  of  your  fast  ye  find  your  own  pleasure  and  oppress  all 
your  labourers.  Behold  ye  fast  for  strife  and  contention 
and  to  smite  with  the  fist  of  wickedness :  ye  fast  not  this 
day  so  as  to  make  your  voice  heard  on  high.  Is  such  the 
fast  that  I  have  chosen  ?  The  day  for  a  man  to  afflict  his 
soul  ?  Is  not  this  the  fast  that  I  have  chosen  :  to  loose 
the  bonds  of  wickedness,  to  undo  the  bands  of  the  yoke 
and  to  let  the  oppressed  go  free,  and  that  ye  break  every 
yoke  ?  Is  it  not  to  deal  thy  bread  to  the  hungry  and  that 
thou  bring  to  thy  house  the  poor  that  are  cast  out  ?  When 
thou  seest  the  naked  that  thou  cover  him ;  and  that  thou 
hide  not  thyself  from  thine  own  flesh  "  (Isaiah  58  :  3-7). 

Fourth  Day. — Hindrances  to  Prayer  (6  :  19  ;  7  :      ). 

(i)      Worrying  J  a  Hindrance  to  Prayer  (6  :  19-34). 

Care  is  a  canker  that  corrodes  the  soul.  Care  kills 
prayer.  It  is  the  very  opposite  of  trust.  He  who  is 
hoarding  up  in  barn  or  bank,  is  likely  sooner  or  later  to 
feel  that  there  is  no  need  to  pray.  This  is  ''  the  deceitful- 
ness  of  riches,"  the  peril  that  comes  to  the  soul  from  hav- 
ing too  much  of  which  to  take  care.     But  on  the  other 


His  Program  As  Prophet  63 

hand,  care  may  come  from  the  very  opposite  side,  from 
having  too  little.  But  in  either  case,  the  lesson  of  abso- 
lute dependence  upon  the  Father  is  to  be  learned  from  the 
birds  in  the  wood  and  the  flowers  of  the  field.  Will  not 
He  who  made  them,  likewise  care  for  them?  And  will 
He  who  so  carefully  cares  for  the  lesser,  neglect  the 
greater  ?  Wherefore  banish  care ;  resort  to  prayer.  Put 
the  interest  of  the  Kingdom  first  and  trust  all  the  rest  to 
the  Father's  faithfulness. 

(2)  Judging  Others,  Another  Hindrance  (7  *•  i-S)- 
Censoriousness  is  a  common  cause  of  failure  in  the 
prayer-life.  He  who  faithfully  judges  himself,  is  not  likely 
to  have  much  time  to  sit  in  judgment  upon  others.  The 
busier  one  may  be  in  getting  rid  of  his  own  faults,  the  less 
attention  will  he  turn  to  those  of  others. 

Both  worrying  and  judging  others  no  doubt  have  a  bear- 
ing upon  the  New  Life  wider  than  as  merely  affecting 
prayer,  but  if  guarded  against  in  this  connection,  they  are 
not  likely  to  cause  much  trouble  elsewhere. 

Fifth  Day. — A  Second  Degree  in  the  Prayer-Life 
(7:6-12). 

Now  there  is  needed  only  a  brief  word  of  warning  as  to 
how  best  to  use  what  is  obtained  in  answer  to  prayer. 
Pearls  are  not  to  be  cast  before  swine. 

Then  the  advanced  degree  in  the  prayer-life  is  reached  in 
intercession.  The  injunction  to  prayer  is  now  further  un- 
folded. It  is  threefold  :  "  Ask  and  it  shall  be  given  you ; 
seek  and  ye  shall  find ;  knock  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto 
you."  Here  is  a  distinct  progression  of  thought  from  the 
gift  which  is  to  be  obtained,  to  the  Giver  who  is  to  be 
found,  and  then  on  to  where  Giver  and  Asker  meet  in  inti- 
mate fellowship.     Encouragement  to  expect  the  answer  is 


64  The  Messiah 

derived  from  a  comparison  between  the  willingness  of  the 
earthly  parent  to  give  to  his  children  and  that  of  the  Father 
in  heaven. 

It  is  worthy  of  note,  that  what  is  known  as  the  Golden 
Rule  relates  directly  to  prayer.  Only  he  who  follows  the 
Golden  Rule  can  have  the  Golden  Key  to  the  Golden 
Storehouse  of  God's  gifts. 

Sixth  Day.—"  The  Narrow  Gate  "  (7  :  13-23). 

And  now,  looking  back,  these  two  great  outstanding 
features  of  Giving  and  Praying  appear  as  the  pillars  of 
**  the  narrow  gate"  that  leadeth  unto  Life — the  New  Life 
which  the  New  Man,  under  the  New  Law,  is  to  lead. 
Through  this  portal  they  only  can  pass  who  learn  to  give 
and  to  pray.  If  only  these  two  features  were  to  be  regarded 
as  indispensable  requisites  for  admission  to  the  Christian 
Church,  as  they  are  for  "  the  way  that  leadeth  unto  Life  " 
would  it  not  be  better,  even  though  undoubtedly  many 
would  be  denied  who  are  now  admitted  to  membership  ? 

But  it  is  absolutely  essential  that  *' false  prophets"  be 
debarred,  and  that  by  this  perfectly  fair  test :  **By  their 
fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  If  " planted  by  the  streams 
of  water,"  the  tree  "  bringeth  forth  its  fruit  in  its  season." 

In  this  paragraph  (7  :  15-23)  with  its  repeated  reference 
to  the  "tree,"  with  the  word  "  fruit"  recurring  six  times 
within  a  few  verses,  is  found  the  clue  to  the  thought  sug- 
gested by  Psalm  i  :  3,  which  underlies  the  whole  of  this 
wonderful  Manifesto :  the  New  Man  in  Christ  Jesus  "shall 
be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the  rivers  of  water." 

Seventh  Day.— The  Conclusion  (7  :  24-28). 

"  Therefore  " — and  here  we  come  to  the  conclusion  of 


His  Program  As  Prophet  65 

this  whole  matter.  The  one  and  only  test  of  the  effect  of 
the  Master's  teaching  is  obedience — doing  the  will  of  tht 
Father  in  heaven.     Every  man  is  a  builder. 

"  All  are  architects  of  Fate 

Building  in  these  halls  of  Time ; 

Some  with  massive  deeds  and  great, 

Some  with  ornaments  of  rhyme. 

"  For  the  structure  that  we  raise, 
Time  is  with  materials  filled ; 
Our  To-days  and  Yesterdays 

Are  the  blocks  with  which  we  build. 

««  Build  to-day,  then,  strong  and  sure. 
With  a  firm  and  ample  base ; 
And  ascending  and  secure 
Shall  to-morrow  find  its  place. 

«•  Thus  alone  can  we  attain 

To  those  turrets,  where  the  eye 
Sees  the  world  as  one  vast  plain, 
And  one  boundless  reach  of  sky." 

The  life  and  not  the  lip,  the  fruit  and  not  the  leaf — 
affords  the  supreme  and  final  test  of  what  every  man  really 
is.  It  is  the  builder y  and  not  merely  the  building,  that  will 
be  put  to  the  test,  in  the  time  of  storm  and  stress.  The 
Rock  of  Ages  is  the  only  firm  foundation. 

"  On  Christ  the  solid  rock  I  stand, 
All  other  ground  is  sinking  sand." 

"Therefore,"  "be  ye  doers  of  the  word  and  not  hearers 
only,  deluding  your  own  selves"  (James  i  :  22). 


66  The  Messiah 

POINTS  FOR  REVIEW 

STUDY  V 

THE   NEW  LIFE 

First  Day. 

What  is  the  first  grace  that  Jesus  emphasizes  in  treating  of  the  New 
Life? 

What  is  the  one  point  on  which  He  dwells  in  connection  there- 
with? 

What  other  points  are  likewise  important  in  regard  to  Giving  ? 

Second  Day. 
What  other  grace  is  next  enjoined  ? 
What  point  is  first  mentioned  ? 
Analyze  the  Model  Prayer. 
What  parallel  between  it  and  the  Ten  Commandments  ? 

Third  Day. 

What  is  the  relation  between  Fasting  and  Prayer  ? 
What  does  true  fasting  involve  ? 

Fourth  Day. 
What  hindrances  to  prayer  are  dwelt  with  ? 
How  does  worry  interfere  with  prayer  ? 
How  does  judging  others  interfere  ? 

Fifth  Day. 

What  word  of  warning  is  given  before  the  prayer-promise  is  re- 
peated ?     And  why  ? 

What  progression  of  thought  is  there  in  this  promise  ? 

What  has  the  Golden  Rule  to  do  with  Prayer  ? 

Sixth  Day. 
What  two  pillars  constitute  "  the  Narrow  Gate  "  ? 
How  are  "  false  prophets  "  to  be  distinguished  and  debarred  ? 

Seventh  Day. 
What  is  the  supreme  and  final  test  of  character  and  conduct  ? 


STUDY  VI 

THE  NEW  SERVICE 
Works  of  Power  {commenct7tg  with  8  :  /.) 

First  Day.— The  Nature  of  Sin  (8  :  1-17). 

"  The  healing  of  His  seamless  dress 
Is  by  our  beds  of  pain. 
We  touch  Him  in  life's  throng  and  press 
And  we  are  whole  again." 

The  Royal  Proclamation  must  bear  the  Royal  Seal.  It 
is  not  enough  to  issue  the  manifesto ;  it  must  also  be  at- 
tested. The  great  State  paper  having  gone  forth,  now 
there  follow  twenty-one  mighty  works  of  power — three 
times  seven  miracles.  "  God  anointed  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
with  the  Holy  Spirit  and  with  power^  who  went  about 
doing  good  and  healing  all  that  were  oppressed  by  the 
devil ;  for  God  was  with  Him  "  (Acts  10  :  38).  Power  is 
the  manifestation  of  the  person.  Christ  must  show  Him- 
self to  be  King  throughout  the  whole  realm  of  nature  and  of 
human  nature — over  all  natural  forces  and  disease  and  even 
death.  Divine  life  must  prove  itself  completely  dominant 
over  all  the  consequences  of  human  sin.  Righteousness 
must  reign  and  sin  must  cease. 

The  miracles  *  recorded  in  this  book  cover  a  wide  range, 

*  The  bracketed  numbers  in  heavy  faced  type  indicate  the  order  of 
the  miracles  as  given  in  the  tabular  summary  at  the  end  of  this 
book. 

67 


68  The  Messiah 

showing  how  perfectly  the  ruin  of  sin  is  restored  by  Him 
who  has  come  to  destroy  the  works  of  Satan  (i  John  3  :  8) 
and  to  estabUsh  the  Kingdom  of  Righteousness  and  peace 
and  joy  in  the  Holy  Spirit  (Rom.  14:  17).  Provision  is 
perfectly  made  in  Christ  against  the  pollution  and  power, 
as  well  as  the  penalty  of  sin  (Rom.  6  :  22,  23). 

The  first  group  of  miracles  (8  :  1-4)  illustrates  the  nature 
of  sin :  its  loathsomeness — leprosy  ;  its  helplessness — palsy 
(5-13)  j  its  restlessness — fever  (14-17).  Sin  must  be  dealt 
with  in  each  of  its  phases  : 

[i]  Leprosy  (8 :  2)  is,  perhaps,  the  most  strikingly 
suggestive  symbol  of  sin.  It  defiles  and  it  separates.  In 
Leviticus  (chs.  13,14)  the  most  minute  directions  are  given, 
with  a  view  to  detecting  the  presence  of  the  disease  in  its 
inception ;  and  whenever  found,  the  leper,  with  clothes 
rent,  hair  loose,  upper  lip  uncovered,  dwelling  alone  and 
**  without  the  camp,"  was  compelled  to  warn  off  everyone 
with  the  cry  of  **  Unclean,  Unclean."  Provision  was 
made,  through  the  priesthood,  for  the  restoring  of  the  man 
who  was  found  to  be  free  from  the  dire  disease,  but  no 
cure  could  be  offered  him  upon  whom  this  curse  had  ac- 
tually come.  Atonement  must  be  made  in  every  case 
where  leprosy  was  suspected,  whether  in  person  or  dwell- 
ing. But  Jesus  deals  with  the  disease  very  differently.  No 
leper  ever  comes  to  Him  without  being  healed.  He  does 
not  hesitate  even  to  touch  the  leper,  but  a  word  of  His 
power  is  enough  to  restore  to  perfect  soundness  once  more. 
And  Christ  is  able  to  cure  a  leprous  soul.  "  Though  your 
sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  white  as  snow,  though  they 
be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as  wool"  (Isaiah  i  :  18). 

[2]  Sin  paralyzes.  It  \s  palsy  (8  :  5).  It  makes  men 
feeble,  as  well  as  foul.     Hence  it  is  necessary  not  only  that 


The  New  Service  69 

the  uncleanness  be  removed,  but  likewise  that  the  strength 
shall  be  restored.  And  this,  Jesus  does;  "when  we  were 
yet  without  strength,  in  due  time  Christ  died  for  the  un- 
godly "  (Romans  5  :  6).  "I  can  do  all  things  through 
Christ  that  strengtheneth  me  "  (Phil.  4:  13),  The  Chris- 
tian may  be  "strengthened  with  all  power,  according  to  the 
might  of  his  glory,  unto  all  patience  and  long-suffering  with 
joy"  (Col.  I  :  II). 

[3]  Sin,  likewise,  inflames  the  soul,  until  it  is  con- 
sumed as  with  fire.  It  is  fever  (8:  14).  Paul  refers  to 
such  a  case,  when  pleading  for  continency,  he  declares 
that  "it  is  better  to  marry  than  to  burn  "  (i  Cor.  7  :  9). 
"I  lie  among  them  that  are  set  on  fire,  even  the  sons  of 
men  "  (Ps.  57  :  4),  said  the  Psalmist.  Peter  describes 
such  men  as  "creatures  without  reason,  born  mere  animals 
— men  that  count  it  pleasure  to  revel  in  the  daytime, 
spots  and  blemishes  revelling  in  their  love-feasts,  having 
their  eyes  full  of  adultery  and  that  cannot  cease  from  sin  " 
(2  Peter  2  :  12-14).  Well  did  the  Wise  Man  ask,  of  such, 
"  Can  a  man  take  fire  in  his  bosom  and  his  clothes  not  be 
burned  ?  Or  can  one  walk  upon  hot  coals  and  his  feet  not 
be  scorched?  "  (Prov.  6  :  27,  28). 

Yet  another  source  of  feverishness  in  the  soul  is  "the 
love  of  money"  (i  Tim.  6 ;  10),  which  "  is  a  root  of  all 
kinds  of  evil."  "  They  that  are  minded  to  be  rich  fall 
into  a  temptation  and  a  snare  and  many  foolish  and  hurt- 
ful lusts,  such  as  drown  men  in  destruction  and  perdition  " 
(i  Tim.  6:9). 

Second  Day.— The  Effects  of  Sin  (8  :  23-9  :  8). 

Sin  affects  every  department  of  life,  from  the  centre  to 
the  circumference,  and  this  is  illustrated  in  the  second 
group  of  miracles  here  recorded,  showing  : 


70  The   Messiah 

(a)     Physical  disturbance — in  the  tempest  (8:  23-27). 

(J?)     Mental  derangement — in  the  demoniac  (8  :  28-34). 

(/)     Spiritual  defilement — in  the  palsied  man  (9  ;  1-8). 

Jesus  shows  His  ability  to  rectify  each  of  these  disturbed 
conditions. 

[4]  ''^  g^^^t  tempest"  (8:  23)  at  His  word  of 
command,  becomes  "a  great  calm"  (v.  26).  He  who 
has  power  to  thus  still  the  storm  upon  the  sea,  has  power 
no  less  to  bring  about  the  **  great  calm  "  in  a  soul  that  is 
swept  by  surges  of  passion.  At  Kermanshah,  Persia, 
recently,  a  Kurdish  highwayman,  named  Abbaskhan,  who 
had  lived  a  very  vile  life,  and  had  committed  more 
murders  and  outrages  than  he  himself  could  count,  one 
day,  coming  upon  this  account  of  the  stilling  of  the 
tempest,  was  convinced  of  the  deity  of  Jesus,  and  resolved 
to  renounce  all  to  follow  Him.  And  this  he  has  done, 
despite  a  terrible  storm  of  persecution,  through  which  he 
has  been  led  in  triumph  and  has  been  baptized  with  the 
new  name  of  Abdul  Masih  (servant  of  Christ).  Is 
such  a  miraculous  mastery  over  the  power  of  sin  in  a  hu- 
man soul  a  whit  less  marvellous  than  that  over  the  physical 
forces  of  nature  ? 

[5]  The  pathetic  condition  of  a  mind  unhinged 
(8  :  28),  presents  a  fitting  companion  picture  to  be  put 
alongside  of  that  of  the  disturbed  powers  of  the  material 
world.  And  here  in  the  domain  of  mind,  as  well,  does 
Christ  show  Himself  to  be  the  supreme  Master.  One 
word  in  the  uncanny  speech  of  the  demoniacs  is  suggestive 
of  that  "far  off,  divine  event,"  when  all  wrongs  will  at 
length  be  righted  and  the  King  Himself  will  come  to  His 
own:  it  is  the  clause,  ^^  before  the  thne'^  (v.  29).  Even 
demons  are  well  aware  that  a  limit  is  fixed,  beyond  which 
the  adversary  will  not  be  allowed  to  go.     "  Therefore,  re- 


The  New  Service  71 

joice,  O  heavens,  and  ye  that  dwell  in  them,  Woe  for  the 
earth  and  for  the  sea  ;  because  the  devil  is  gone  down  unto 
you,  having  great  wrath^  knowing  that  he  hath  but  a  short 
time^^  (Rev.  12:  12).  Looking  forward  to  the  day  of 
final  deliverance,  our  Lord  Himself  exclaims,  "I  beheld 
Satan  fallen  like  lightning  from  heaven"  (Luke  10  :  18). 
And  this  was  said  when  the  Seventy  returned  with  joy, 
saying,  "  Lord,  even  the  demons  are  subject  to  us  in  Thy 
name  "  (v.  17). 

[6]  But,  deeper  down  than  physical  environment  or 
mental  condition,  Jesus  must  go  to  the  seat  of  sin,  in  the 
soul  itself.  In  the  case  of  the  man  who  was  so  sick  of  the 
palsy  (9  :  i)  as  to  be  too  helpless  to  put  himself  within  the 
reach  of  healing,  Jesus  lays  His  finger  upon  the  very  source 
of  the  sickness,  when  He  says,  "  Son,  be  of  good  cheer; 
thy  sins  are  forgiven  "  (9  :  2). 

Thus  from  centre  to  circumference,  the  King  undertakes 
to  counteract  the  effects  of  sin  and  to  restore  every  de- 
partment of  life,  both  without  and  within. 

Third  Day.— Sin's  Remedy :  Life  (9  :  9-34 ;  1 2  : 9-13). 

Set  in  the  midst  of  this  series  of  mighty  works,  evidenc- 
ing the  divine  power  of  the  King,  the  writer  puts  in  his 
own  portrait,  as  he  appeared  at  the  crisis  point  when 
turning  from  death  to  life.  Was  ever  the  story  of  a  con- 
version told  with  more  sublime  simplicity  ?  He  presents 
himself,  in  company  with  *'  publicans  and  sinners " 
(v.  10),  as  a  living  witness  of  the  power  of  the  physician 
to  heal  the  sin-sick  soul. 

The  instances  which  immediately  follow,  reveal  the 
King  as  the  Lord  and  giver  of  life,  and  that  in  two  de- 
grees: [8]  the  first  case,  that  of  youth  with  life  already 
gone  (9  :  18) ;   [9]  the  other  that  of  the  mature  woman, 


72  The   Messiah 

with  the  life-tide  ebbing  fast  (9  :  20).  And  the  King  re- 
veals the  secret  source  of  that  which  alone  can  counteract 
death,  *'  the  wages  of  sin  "  (Rom.  6  :  23)  :  "I  came  that 
they  might  have  Life,  and  that  they  might  have  it  more 
abundantly  "  (John  10  :  10).  What  science  fails  even  to 
define,  Jesus  has  completely  at  His  command. 

This  supremacy  of  Life  over  death  covers  the  entire 
range  of  the  senses.  Each  gate  that  had  been  captured  by 
the  enemy  is  now  recovered  : 

[9]  First,  Eye-Gate  opens  at  the  touch  of  the  King 
(9  •  27-31).  **  Two  blind  men  followed  them,  crying  out 
and  saying,  Have  mercy  on  us,  thou  Son  of  David.  And 
when  He  was  come  unto  the  house,  the  blind  men  came  to 
Him:  and  Jesus  saith  unto  them.  Believe  ye  that  I  am 
able  to  do  this?  They  say  unto  Him,  Yea,  Lord. 
Then  touched  He  their  eyes  saying,  According  to  your 
faith  be  it  done  unto  you.     And  their  eyes  were  opened." 

Yet  another  case  is  cited  (20  :  29-34)  where  two  other 
blind  men  receive  their  sight  at  His  touch.  The  difference 
between  the  two  cases  is,  that  in  the  latter  case,  no  in- 
junction of  secrecy  is  laid  upon  them,  and  the  men  forth- 
with become  His  followers. 

[10]  Likewise  must  Mouth-Gate  be  brought  under 
the  Master's  complete  control.  One  whose  tongue  had 
been  holden  by  a  demon  is  brought  to  Jesus  and  instantly 
the  bond  is  broken.  It  is  probable  that  in  this  case  Ear- 
Gate,  too,  at  the  same  time  gave  way  at  the  approach  of  the 
King,  for  so  closely  are  these  two  gates  of  the  heart-citadel 
connected,  that  they  open  or  close  together.  In  a  similar 
case  recorded  in  Mark  7  :  35,  in  noting  the  result  it  is 
said  that  "  his  ears  were  opened  and  the  bond  of  his 
tongue  was  loosed." 

[11]     In  the  case  of  the  man  with  a  withered  hand 


The  New  Service  73 

(12  :  9),  Jesus  proves  His  power  over  the  sense  of  Touch, 
in  like  manner,  by  a  mere  word.  "Then  saith  He  to  the 
man,  Stretch  forth  thy  hand.  And  he  stretched  it  forth 
and  it  was  restored  whole,  as  the  other." 

[12]  Another  case  occurs  (12  :  22)  where  three  of  the 
senses  are  affected  and  all  are  forthwith  restored — sight, 
hearing  and  speech. 

Thus,  with  the  single  exception  of  smell,  Jesus  here 
gives  a  demonstration  of  His  supreme  control  over  all  the 
senses,  in  redeeming  the  soul  from  the  effects  of  sin. 

Fourth  Day. — Providing  For  "  His  Own"  and  Pre- 
serving Life  (14 :  13-36). 
Rights  entail  responsibilities.  He  who  can  command 
must  also  needs  provide.  The  King  cannot  suffer  his 
subjects  to  suffer  while  he  has  an  ample  supply.  The 
feeding  of  the  multitude  is  but  a  slight  suggestion  of  a 
process  which  is  going  on  all  the  while  upon  a  vast  scale 
under  the  King's  supervision.  He  spreads  a  table  every 
day  for  the  multitude.  The  valleys  are  filled  with  corn, 
the  hillsides  are  covered  with  cattle,  trees  and  vines  are 
laden  with  fruit,  the  earth  yields  its  increase  continually  at 
His  command  alone. 

"  Back  of  the  loaf  is  the  snowy  flour, 
And  back  of  the  flour  the  mill, 
And  back  of  the  mill  are  the  sun  and  the  shower, 
The  rain  and  the  Father's  will." 

And  not  only  does  He  furnish  this  feast  of  material  good 
things,  but  food  for  thought  and  the  Bread  of  Life  for  the 
sustenance  of  the  soul  all  come  from  Him. 

[13]     It  is  surely  significant  that  of  all  the  thirty-four 


74  The  Messiah 

recorded  miracles  wrought  by  our  Lord,  when  on  earth, 
this  of  the  feeding  of  the  5,000  is  the  only  one  found  in  all 
four  versions  of  the  gospel.  It  is  in  fact  a  picture  of  the 
world  in  miniature.  It  presents  the  greatest  problem  in 
the  world,  that  of  the  evangelization  of  the  world.  And 
it  sets  forth  the  Master's  own  method  of  solving  the 
problem. 

[14]  What  wonder  that  the  nation  which  was  wearily 
waiting  for  a  Deliverer  to  appear  and  help  throw  off  the 
galling  yoke  of  Rome,  should  have  been  ready  to  hail 
Jesus  as  King,  while  utterly  misconceiving  the  nature  of 
His  kingdom.  His  refusal  of  the  proposal  must  have 
staggered  even  His  own  body-guard.  Hence,  how  fitting 
that  there  should  follow  that  very  night  a  fresh  manifesta- 
tion of  His  might  as  He  comes  walking  over  the  waves 
(14  :  22)  and  to  Peter  and  the  rest  proof  is  given  of  His 
power  to  suspend  even  the  law  of  gravitation.  "  And 
when  they  were  gone  up  into  the  boat,  the  wind  ceased. 
And  they  that  were  in  the  boat  worshipped  Him,  saying. 
Of  a  truth  thou  art  the  Son  of  God  "  (14:32,  33). 


Fifth  Day. — Extending  His  Blessings  to  the  Gen- 
tiles (15  :  21-39). 

**To  the  Jew  first"  (Rom.  2:  10)  was  the  order  of 
Jesus'  mission.  '*  He  came  unto  His  own,"  and  only 
when  **  His  own  received  Him  not  "  (John  i  :  11)  did  He, 
as  Paul  did  afterwards,  turn  unto  the  Gentiles  (Acts 
13  :  46). 

[15]  Only  on  a  few  occasions  did  he  go  beyond  the 
borders  of  His  native  land.  *'  Our  Lord  sprung  out  of 
Judah"  (Heb.  7:  14).  Jesus  was  a  Jew.  The  Chosen 
Race  had  a  special  claim  upon  Him.     But  He  would  toler- 


The  New  Service  75 

ate  no  false  pretense.  None  save  a  Jew  had  any  claim 
upon  Him  as  the  ''Son  of  David"  (v.  22)  and  this  the 
Canaanitish  woman  (15  :  21)  must  be  made  to  understand, 
before  she  could  share  in  the  blessings  which  He  was 
ready  to  extend  to  all  alike.  So  long  as  she  employed  a 
title  to  which  she  had  no  claim,  Jesus  "answered  her  not 
a  word"  (v.  23).  And  when  the  disciples  interfered  and 
would  have  gotten  rid  of  her,  by  yielding  to  her  importunity. 
He  made  it  plain  that  His  mission  was  primarily,  to  '*the 
house  of  Israel."  But  when  the  woman  worshipped  Him 
as  her  "  Lord,"  the  case  was  different  and  she  not  only  got 
all  that  she  asked  and  carte-blanche  to  ask  what  she  would 
ever  after,  but,  also  highest  commendation  for  her  ''great 
faith."  "To  the  Greek  also"  grace  is  made  to  abound. 
Gentile,  as  well  as  Jew,  shares  in  the  redemption  pur- 
chased by  Christ.  "For  there  is  no  respect  of  persons 
with  God  "  (Rom.  2  :  11).  The  Christ  extends  the  bless- 
ings of  His  kingdom  alike  to  all. 

[16]  And  this  is  to  be  no  mere  exception.  It  is  the 
opening  of  the  gateway  to  the  whole  Gentile  world.  "  He 
went  from  the  borders  of  Tyre  and  came  through  Sidon 
unto  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  through  the  midst  of  the  borders 
of  Decapolis.  ...  In  those  days  when  there  was 
again  a  great  multitude,  and  they  had  nothing  to  eat.  He 
called  unto  Him  His  disciples  and  said  unto  them,  I  have 
compassion  on  the  multitude,  because  they  continue  with 
Me  now  three  days  and  have  nothing  to  eat"  (Mark 
7  :  31-8 :  10).  Then  He  proceeds  to  do  for  this  com- 
pany of  4,000  (15  :  29),  what  He  had  previously  done  for 
the  5,000  men  of  His  own  nation,  thus  making  it  plain 
that  He  is  qualified  to  provide  for  the  life  of  all  alike, 
even  as  He  also  was  to  die  to  redeem  all  from  the  death  of 
sin. 


76  The  Messiah 

Sixth  Day. — The  Key  to  Power  (17  :  9-27). 

The  next  of  the  works  of  power,  as  in  the  two  preced- 
ing, occurs  outside  the  borders  of  Jewry. 

[17]  In  the  case  of  the  epileptic  boy  (17  :  14)  not  a 
single  sense,  merely,  had  been  impaired  but  all  are  af- 
fected. Even  the  elements  of  water  and  fire  seem  to  have 
conspired  to  visit  upon  him  the  dire  effects  of  sin.  It  is 
the  first  instance  explicitly  recorded  where  the  disciples 
had  attempted  to  use  the  power  which  their  King  had 
committed  to  them,  to  destroy  the  works  of  Satan.  And 
the  result  had  been  a  miserable  failure.  They  had  yet  to 
learn,  that  the  power  of  God  could  be  released  only  by  the 
power  of  prayer.  Here  is  the  key  to  the  omnipotent 
forces  of  the  kingdom.  And  the  King  commits  that 
golden  key  to  His  subjects. 

[18]  Once  more  does  the  King  give  proof  of  His 
power  to  provide  all  needed  resources.  And  at  the  same 
time  He  proves  His  loyalty  to  the  powers  that  be  (17  :  24). 
To  meet  the  demand  of  the  publican  for  the  payment  of 
the  personal  tax  of  Peter  and  Himself,  He  sends  the  fisher- 
man disciple  to  the  sea  and  from  the  mouth  of  the  first  fish 
that  takes  the  hook,  is  taken  the  shekel  that  is  required. 
This  gives  a  hint  as  to  the  boundless  resources  at  the 
King's  command. 


Seventh  Day.— The  Curse  of  Fruitlessness 
(21 :  18-22). 
[19]  Twice  only,  in  all  the  range  of  His  thirty-four 
recorded  works  of  power,  did  our  Lord  employ  that  power 
to  destroy — once  in  the  realm  of  animal  life,  when  He  con- 
demned the  breach  of  the  Mosaic  law  by  driving  the  swine 
into  the  sea  (Matt.  8:32);  once  only  in  the  vegetable 


The  New  Service  77 

kingdom,  when  He  cursed  the  fruitless  fig-tree  and  it  with- 
ered away. 

[20]  The  fruitless  fig-tree  with  its  false  pretense  is  a  pic- 
ture of  the  Jewish  nation  (21  :  18).  Jesus  reserves  His 
most  withering  condemnation  for  all  sham  and  hypocrisy. 
This  instance  stands  as  a  frontispiece  to  the  woes  which 
He  utters  immediately  afterwards  in  the  temple  (ch.  24), 
and  the  tribulations  which  He  foretells  (ch.  25).  As  such, 
it  amounts  to  a  startling  warning  and  prophecy. 

[21]  Of  all  His  miracles,  the  Resurrection  affords  the 
supreme  proof  of  our  Lord's  kingly  power.  The  record  of 
it,  occupying  the  last  chapter  of  this  book,  is  given  with  a 
sublime  simplicity  to  which  no  comment  can  possibly  add : 

'*  Behold  there  was  a  great  earthquake;  for  an  angel  of 
the  Lord  descended  from  heaven,  and  came  and  rolled 
away  the  stone  and  sat  upon  it.  His  appearance  was  as 
lightning,  and  His  raiment  white  as  snow ;  and  for  fear  of 
Him  the  watchers  did  quake,  and  became  as  dead  men. 
And  the  angel  answered  and  said  unto  the  woman.  Fear 
not  ye :  for  I  know  that  ye  seek  Jesus,  which  hath  been 
crucified.  He  is  not  here  ;  for  He  is  risen,  even  as  He  said. 
Come,  see  the  place  where  the  Lord  lay.  And  go  quickly, 
and  tell  the  disciples.  He  is  risen  from  the  dead ;  and  lo. 
He  goeth  before  you  into  Galilee ;  there  shall  ye  see  Him : 
lo,  I  have  told  you  "  (28  ;  2-7). 


78  The  Messiah 

POINTS  FOR  REVIEW 

STUDY  VI 
THE  NEW  SERVICE :  WORKS  OF  POWER 

First  Day. 

How  many  miracles  are  given  in  this  book  ?  What  their  scope  ? 
What  aspect  of  sin  does  leprosy  illustrate  ?  How  treated  ?  What 
signified  by  palsy  ?  How  remedied  ?  What  are  some  of  the  sources 
of  soul-fever  ? 

Second  Day. 

In  what  various  ways  are  the  effects  of  sin  shown  and  how 
counteracted  ? 

Third  Day. 

How  is  brought  out  the  completeness  of  Christ's  restoration  of  the 
bodily  powers  ? 

Fourth  Day. 

How  is  the  King's  power  to  provide  for  His  subjects  demonstrated  ? 
How  on  a  far  larger  scale  does  the  feeding  of  the  multitude  still 
continue  ? 

What  occasion  was  there  for  His  walking  on  the  water  ? 

Fifth  Day. 
Why  does  He  apparently  repulse  the  Canaanitish  woman  ? 
Why  feed  a  multitude  a  second  time  ? 

Sixth  Day. 

In  what  respect  does  the  case  of  the  epileptic  boy  differ  from  all 
the  preceding  miracles  ?  On  what  point  particularly  in  the  method 
of  dealing  with  it  does  our  Lord  fix  the  attention  of  the  disciples  ? 

What  is  the  significance  of  the  way  in  which  Jesus  meets  the 
demand  for  His  tax  to  the  state  ? 

Seventh  Day. 
On  what  occasions  did  Jesus  ever  destroy  property  ?    Why  ? 


STUDY  VII 

THE  NEW  SERVICE  {Continued) 
His  Words  of  Wisdom  {Ch.  5  a7td following.) 

First  Day. — The  Apostles'  Commission  (ch.  10.) 

The  first  of  the  words  recorded  in  this  book  is  the  Great 
Manifesto  (5-7),  which  stands  by  itself  and  has  already 
been  treated.  After  the  seals  have  been  put  upon  this 
great  State  paper,  in  the  first  series  of  mighty  works,  which 
occupy  chapters  8  and  9,  the  Twelve  are  appointed  and 
their  commission  is  given.  While  primarily  intended  for 
the  King's  first  Body-Guard,  this  document  extends 
much  farther,  even  to  the  end  of  the  present  age. 

The  first  paragraph  (vs.  5-15)  is  confined  to  the  period 
up  to  the  Crucifixion.  *'  To  the  Jew  first  "  is  the  order  to 
be  strictly  adhered  to ;  during  this  period  no  exception  is 
to  be  made,  even,  of  the  Samaritan,  half- Jew  though  he 
be.  The  message  is  clearly  defined :  it  is  not  the  Gospel 
of  the  grace  of  God,  but  the  proclamation  that  ''  The  king- 
dom of  heaven  is  at  hand,"  and  this  is  duly  attested  by 
miracle.  The  messengers  are  to  go  only  to  the  worthy 
and  where  they  are  wanted. 

The  next  paragraph  (16-23)  deals  with  an  entirely  dif- 
ferent set  of  conditions.  It  distinctly  contemplates  the 
troublous  forty  years  between  Pentecost  and  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem.  Now  the  messengers  may  look  out,  not  for 
friends  but  only  for  foes,  alike  with  Gentile  and  with  Jew. 
That  may  be  expected  now  which  never  had  occurred  be- 
fore and  never  could  occur  again  :  a  Christian  scourged 

79 


8o  The  Messiah 

ill  a  synagogue  !  In  no  other  period,  either,  would  Jews 
and  Gentiles  unite  in  persecuting  the  followers  of  Christ. 
And,  since  nowhere  on  earth  would  there  be  found  a 
<'  City  of  Israel,"  after  Titus'  *^  Eagles  "  had  perched  round 
about  Jerusalem  and  pounced  upon  their  prey,  clearly  all 
this  could  apply  only  to  that  earlier  period  when  the  mes- 
sengers were  to  fairly  '*  flee  "  from  city  to  city  with  their 
message  of  the  kingdom.  During  all  this  awful  ordeal  of 
persecution,  a  new  Ally  could  be  counted  upon,  even  "  the 
Spirit  of  your  Father  that  speaketh  in  you  "  (v.  20). 

But  on  beyond  the  set  time  of  the  nemesis  which  would 
overtake  the  Chosen  People,  the  passing  away  of  their 
Temple  and  the  obliteration  of  their  national  existence,  the 
King  forecastes  (vs.  24-42)  a  further  period,  stretching 
away  down  through  the  centuries  until  the  end  of  the  age. 
In  it,  every  disciple  may  have  in  common  with  the  Master, 
not  only  the  truth  which  is  to  be  everywhere  proclaimed 
(v.  27)  but  also,  the  reproach  which  that  teaching  will  in- 
evitably entail  (v.  25)  and,  likewise,  at  last  the  ''reward  " 
(v.  42).  This  identification  of  the  servant  with  his  Master 
is  to  be  through  the  "  Cross  "  (v.  38),  and  whenever  that 
cross  appears,  families  are  inevitably  divided.  For  souls 
must  be  dealt  with  singly. 

Second  Day.— The  Nature  of  the  Kingdom— in 
Cipher  (ch.  13). 
From  the  hour  of  His  rejection  by  "  His  own,"  when 
the  works  which  He  wrought  through  the  agency  of  the 
Spirit  of  God  are  attributed  to  Satanic  influence,  our  Lord 
changes  His  method  of  unfolding  the  Truth.  Thenceforth 
from  eyes  diseased.  He  screens  the  light;  "  and  without  a 
parable  spake  He  nothing  unto  them"  (13:  34).  He 
communicates  in  cipher,  so  that  they  who  do  not  wish  to 


The  New  Service  8l 

understand  may  not  incur  increasing  guilt,  while  they  who 
truly  wish  to  know  may  perceive  the  more  by  searching 
out  the  hidden  meanings.  In  this  first  series,  of  seven,  the 
nature  and  progress  of  the  kingdom  to  the  end  of  the  age 
is  unfolded.  Four  are  uttered  out  of  doors  and  the  latter 
three  in  the  inner  circle  of  Peter's  house.  That  there  is  a 
logical  sequence  throughout  the  series,  there  can  be  no 
doubt,  but  it  is  necessary  to  beware  of  fanciful  interpre- 
tation.    Views  vary  very  widely. 

Bengel,  adopting  the  historic-prophetical  view,  regards 
[i]  the  Sower  as  descriptive  of  the  sowing  of  the  Word  of 
Life  in  the  times  of  Christ  and  His  immediate  apostles ; 
[2]  the  Tares,  as  referring  to  the  period  immediately  fol- 
lowing, when  watchfulness  against  false  doctrines  began  to 
diminish  and  heresies  to  crop  up  ;  [3]  the  Mustard  Seedy 
describing  the  time  of  Constantine,  when  the  Church,  in- 
stead of  even  seeming  to  need  support,  evidently  gave  it, 
and  the  great  men  of  the  earth  took  shelter  under  its  pro- 
tection ;  [4]  the  Leaven,  setting  forth  the  diffusion  of  the 
true  religion  throughout  the  whole  world ;  [5]  the  Hid 
Treasure,  signifying — as  in  the  Apocalypse  (12  :  6),  by  the 
woman  fleeing  to  the  wilderness — the  hidden  state  of  the 
church ;  [6]  the  Pearly  standing  for  the  glorious  day  when 
the  church  is  esteemed  above  all  else,  and  Satan  is  bound ; 
[7]  the  Drag-net,  indicating  the  ultimate  confusion,  sep- 
aration and  judgment. 

Trench,  rejecting  all  such  interpretation,  sees  in  these 
parables,  a  setting  forth  not  of  facts,  but  rather  of  ideas 
and  laws  of  the  church's  history  :  \\\  In  the  Sower,  the 
causes  of  the  failure  and  success  with  which  the  gospel 
meets  when  preached ;  [2]  In  the  Tares,  the  obstacles  to 
the  internal  development  of  Christ's  kingdom,  even  after 
the  church  has  been  hedged  in  from  the  world,  are  traced 


82  The  Messiah 

to  their  true  authors,  with  a  warning  against  methods 
whereby  men  might  attempt  to  overcome  them ;  [3J  The 
Mustard  Seed  and  [4]  The  Leaven  show,  the  first,  the 
outward  and  the  second  the  inward  might  of  the  kingdom 
and  both  forecast  the  ultimate  triumph;  [5]  The  Hid 
Treasure  and  [6]  The  Pearl,  show  the  relation  of  the 
kingdom  to  every  man  subjectively  and  individually,  its 
supreme  worth  and  how  those  who  have  discovered  its 
worth  will  be  willing  to  forget  all  else  therefor;  [7]  The 
Drag-net  indicates  the  entire  separation  from  evil,  which 
it  is  right  to  desire,  but  not  by  self-willed  efforts  pre- 
maturely to  attempt  to  bring  about,  anticipating  which, 
each  should  use  all  available  means  of  grace,  awaiting  the 
separation  of  the  precious  from  the  vile. 

Others  regard  *'  the  kingdom  of  the  heavens  "  as  equiva- 
lent to  the  visible  church  or  to  "  Christendom,"  with  its 
commingling  of  the  true  and  the  false.  In  the  first  parable 
there  is  no  mention  made  of  the  kingdom,  for  this  does 
not  appear  until  first  the  King  has  come  and  sown  the 
seed  which  develops  into  "the  Sons  of  the  kingdom." 
Only  one-fourth  of  the  good  seed  finds  good  soil,  but  it 
falls  alike  on  all — the  hard-hearted,  the  shallow-hearted 
and  the  half-hearted,  as  well  as  the  whole-hearted.  The 
good  and  the  evil  are  found  commingled  within  the  same 
enclosure  from  the  very  first  until  the  end,  like  ivheat  and 
darnel.  The  external  growth  is  phenomenal,  as  that  of 
the  mustard  seed,  and  many  flock  in  for  shelter.  Yet, 
throughout,  there  are  elements  of  corruption  at  work,  like 
leaven.  He  who  sows  the  good  seed,  who  bides  the 
harvest  for  the  burning  of  the  darnel,  who  sets  the  mustard, 
is  the  same  who  finds  the  treasure  hid,  and  sells  all  to  buy 
the  field,  the  same  who,  as  a  merchant,  finds  the  pearl  of 
great  price  and  sacrifices  everything  in  order  to  purchase  it. 


The  New  Service  83 

But  he  does  not  appear  in  connection  with  the  leavening 
process,  where  ^'  a  woman  "  is  the  agent,  or  in  the  final 
separating  of  what  the  great  drag-net  brings  in,  with  which 
"  the  angels  "  have  to  do. 

In  the  Treasure  may  be  seen  the  mystery  of  Israel,  the 
"peculiar  treasure  "  (Ex.  19  :  5  ;  Ps.  135  :  4).  He  died 
for  that  nation  (John  11  :  51).  Yet,  despite  the  fact  that 
He  redeemed  Israel,  it  is  a  treasure  still  hidden  and  not 
yet  come  into  His  possession.  "  I  do  not  wish  you  to  be 
ignorant,  brethren,  of  this  mystery,  that  ye  be  not  wise  in 
your  own  conceit,  that  blindness  in  part  is  happened  to 
Israel,  until  the  fullness  of  the  nations  be  come  in ;  and  so 
all  Israel  shall  be  saved"  (Rom.  11:  25).  That  hid 
treasure  shall  surely  yet  be  brought  to  light. 

There  is  yet  another  "  mystery  "  to  be  unfolded  and  quite 
distinct  from  that  of  Israel.  It  is  that  of  which  Paul 
writes  to  the  Ephesians  in  the  third  chapter  of  his  letter, 
**  the  mystery  which  for  ages  hath  been  hid  in  God  who 
created  all  things ;  to  the  intent  that  now  unto  the  princi- 
palities and  ^the  powers  in  the  heavenlies  might  be  made 
known  through  the  church  the  manifold  wisdom  of  God  " 
(Eph.  3  :  9-1 1).  The  church  is  the  pearl  which  the 
heavenly  Merchantman  sought  and  found  and  bought. 
"He  loved  the  church  and  gave  Himself  for  it" 
(Eph.  5  :  25).  Where  there  is  such  diversity  of  interpre- 
tation, the  need  is  all  the  greater  for  each  student  of  the 
Word  to  depend  upon  the  Spirit  whose  office  it  is  to  guide 
into  all  the  truth  (John  16  :  13). 

Third    Day.— Illustrating   the   Effect   of    Division 
Among  Disciples  (ch.  18). 
On  the  return  from  the  north  the  disciples  had  been 
disputing.     Several  of  them  had  been  signally  preferred, 


84  The  Messiah 

in  being  allowed  to  witness  the  glory  of  the  Transfiguration 
Mount.  Secrets  had  been  entrusted  to  them  in  which  the 
others  were  not  to  share  until  after  the  crucifixion.  The 
question  of  preeminence  had  naturally  arisen.  Division 
threatened.  Yet  the  Lord  holds  His  peace.  He  had  not 
interfered  at  the  time.  After  getting  back  to  Capernaum, 
however,  He  asks  as  to  what  they  had  been  reasoning  on 
the  way  and  when  they  are  dumb,  setting  a  little  child  in 
their  midst,  He  shows  them  the  disastrous  effect  of  the 
self-seeking  spirit,  alike  on  themselves  and  upon  others. 
He  illustrates  this  by  two  beautiful  parables. 

[8]  The  little  one  whom  they  thus  may  make  to  stumble 
is  like  a  Sheep  Astray  (12-14)  to  whom  the  Father's  heart 
goes  out  as  that  of  a  shepherd  to  the  one  sheep  that  has 
lost  its  way.  And  since  the  Father's  sympathy  is  thus 
called  out  to  this  one  more  than  to  all  the  ninety  and 
nine  who  have  not  strayed,  it  is  a  fearful  thing  to  be  the 
means  of  making  another  to  stumble;  better  far  to  part 
with  that  which  has  made  one's  self  to  be  a  stumbling 
block,  no  matter  if  it  be  a  hand  or  a  foot  or  an  eye.  And 
all  the  worse,  if  that  other  be  a  brother.  If  the  fault  seems 
to  be  altogether  his,  it  yet  remains  for  the  one  aggrieved  to 
point  out  the  grievance  and  to  be  forgiving.  To  this 
willingness  to  forgive  there  is  to  be  absolutely  no  limit. 
For  any  refusal  to  forgive  another  cuts  off  one's  own 
hope  of  forgiveness.  This  is  illustrated  by  [9]  the  para- 
ble of  the  King's  Steward,  (23-35)  who  after  having  had 
his  own  debt  cancelled,  oppressed  his  fellow  servants  and 
was  himself  turned  over  to  the  tormentors  until  he  should 
pay  his  debt.  Thus  the  Master  shows  the  reflex  effect 
upon  one's  self,  as  before  He  had  shown  the  direct  effect 
upon  others,  of  becoming  a  cause  of  stumbling  by  self- 
seeking. 


The  New  Service  85 

Fourth  Day.— Suggesting  the  Sort  of  Service  the 
King  Requires  (chs.  20  and  21). 

Of  the  other  eight  parables  that  are  given  by  Matthew 
all  of  them  spoken  not  long  before  the  end,  three  relate 
more  especially  to  the  character  of  service  which  the  King 
requires,  and  the  others  to  the  consummation  of  the  age. 

[10]  The  parable  of  the  Labourers  in  the  Vineyard 
(20  :  1-16)  has  puzzled  many.  It  occurs  in  the  course  of 
the  conversation  following  the  incident  of  the  Rich  Young 
Ruler,  when  the  disciples  had  asked  what  they  would  get 
for  what  they  had  given  up.  It  is  intended  to  illustrate 
the  statement  with  which  it  both  begins  and  ends: 
«  Many  shall  be  last  that  are  first,  and  first  that  are  last." 
It  asserts  the  divine  sovereignty  of  God,  but  this  involves 
no  unreasonable  despotism.  Those  who  are  called  in  late, 
are  not  to  blame  that  they  had  not  been  called  before ;  all 
come  when  they  are  called.  The  last  poor  cannibal  of  the 
Dark  Continent  who  responds  to  the  call  of  the  House- 
holder, will  be  treated  just  as  well  as  the  first  apostle.  For 
the  test  of  service  is  qualitative  and  not  quantitative. 
This  much  is  quite  clear,  that  there  is  plenty  of  work,  that 
the  Lord  is  anxious  for  more  workers  and  that  none  will  be 
at  any  disadvantage  who  promptly  respond  to  the  call  to 
service,  no  matter  when  the  call  may  come. 

[11]  The  meaning  of  the  parable  of  the  two  Sons 
(21  :  28-32)  is  explained  by  the  Lord  Himself.  Publicans 
and  harlots  who  had  at  first  refused,  afterwards  turned  and 
went  to  work,  while  the  class  who  made  loudest  profession 
failed  to  do  the  works  of  righteousness. 

[12]  This  latter  class  is  still  further  described  in  the 
parable  of  the  Householder  (21  :  33-46),  who  sends  first 
His  servants  and  at  last  His  own  son,  seeking  the  fruits, 
but  only  to  be  repulsed  and  killed. 


86  The  Messiah 

Fifth  Day Woes. 

Of  the  last  group  of  parables  the  meaning  is  made  very 
plain.  The  antagonism  between  Jesus  and  the  Jewish  au- 
thorities is  nearing  its  culmination.  [13]  The  Parable  of 
the  Marriage  Feast  (22  ;  1-14)  shows  how  the  Chosen 
People  had  been  given  every  possible  opportunity  and 
how,  having  willfully  rejected  the  long-suffering  overtures 
of  God,  they  would  incur  destruction,  both  of  themselves 
and  of  their  Holy  City.  Another  nation,  "  redeemed  out 
of  every  nation"  (Rev.  5  19),  would  take  their  place. 
And  yet,  at  last,  the  test  will  be  applied  to  every  guest, 
individually,  and  only  he  will  be  allowed  to  partake  who 
is  *' clothed  with  the  garment  of  salvation — covered  with 
the  robe  of  righteousness  "  (Is.  61 :  10). 

Then  follows  the  threefold  assault  by  (i)  the  disciples 
of  the  Pharisees  and  the  Herodians  jointly,  as  to  the  duty 
to  the  state,  (2)  the  Sadducees,  as  to  the  marriage  tie, 
beyond  the  grave ;  and  (3)  the  Pharisee  lawyer,  as  to  the 
''great  commandment  in  the  law."  After  answering 
them  every  one  with  wonderful  wisdom,  Jesus  turns  the 
tables  by  putting  a  question,  to  which  "  no  one  was  able 
to  answer  Him  a  word,  neither  durst  any  man  from  that 
day  forth  ask  Him  any  more  questions."  So  still,  as  in 
that  day  and  until  the  end  of  time,  do  the  enemies  of  the 
cross  of  Christ  bring  their  conundrums,  of  secularism,  ra- 
tionalism and  formalism.  Sooner  or  later,  all  questions 
resolve  themselves  to  that  concerning  the  Christ  and  upon 
the  answer  to  that  question  must  depend  the  weal  or  woe 
of  men. 

Jesus  now  openly  exposes  the  Pharisees  (ch.  23)  and 
pours  out  the  seven  vials  of  His  wrath — "  the  wrath  of 
the  lamb"  (Rev.  6:  16).  Yet  in  wrath,  He  remembers 
mercy,  and  upon  the  lurid  background  of  these  woes,  is 


The  New  Service  87 

presented  the  tenderest  of  pictures  as  the  King  is  seen 
weeping  over  Jerusalem.  Once  more  salvation  walks 
hand  in  hand  with  judgment. 

Sixth  Day.— Warnings  (24-25). 

When  our  Lord  uttered  these  warnings  of  the  tribula- 
tions about  to  befall  the  Chosen  Nation,  and  of  those  yet 
more  dire  calamities  that  are  just  as  surely  to  come  later 
upon  all  the  world,  not  a  cloud  could  be  discerned  on  the 
horizon  by  any  other  eye.  All  seemed  serene,  in  both  the 
political  and  religious  situation.  Even  those  who  listened 
to  these  awesome  predictions  little  realized  what  a  storm 
was  about  to  burst.  Within  the  inner  circle,  he  now 
utters  four  parables,  all  of  which  look  on  towards  the  end 
of  the  age. 

[14]  That  of  the  Stewards  (24:45-51)  emphasizes 
the  need  of  eternal  vigilance.  "  The  faithful  and  wise 
Servant"  is  contrasted  with  "the  evil  Servant"  and  the 
penalty  of  unfaithfulness  is  plainly  shown  to  be  perdition. 

[15]  The  parable  of  The  Ten  Virgins  (25  :  1-13)  treats 
of  the  personal  relation  of  the  church  to  her  Head.  The 
test  of  real  discipleship  is  not  so  much  in  the  beginning  as 
in  the  continuing  unto  the  end.  The  Christian  is  to  be 
like  the  Christ,  in  being  ''The  light  of  the  world"  (Cf. 
Matt.  5  :  14  with  John  8  :  12).  It  is  at  night  that  there  is 
need  of  the  light.  None  can  obtain  it  from  another ;  it 
must  be  a  personal  possession.  "  To  them  that  wait  for 
Him,  shall  Christ  appear,  a  second  time,  unto  salvation  " 
(Heb.  9 :  28). 

[16]  The  parable  of  the  Talents  (14-30)  relates  to  ac- 
tion while  the  preceding  parable  has  rather  to  do  with  the 
attitude.  Talents  can  be  held  only  as  they  are  used. 
"According  as  each  hath  received  a  gift,  ministering  it 


88  The  Messiah 

among  yourselves  as  good  stewards  of  the  manifold  grace 
of  God"  (i  Peter  4:  10). 

[17]  The  last  of  the  parables,  that  of  The  Sheep  and  the 
Goats,  (31-46)  treats  of  the  relation  of  the  nations  to  the 
King  of  Kings.  It  anticipates  the  Great  Assize,  the  Judg- 
ment of  the  Great  White  Throne  (Rev.  20  :  11-15). 

Seventh  Day.— The  Great  Commission  (28  :  18-28). 

The  Great  Commission  is  the  Magna  Charta  of  the 
Christian  Church — her  "  Marching  Orders,"  unto  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  and  unto  the  end  of  the  age. 
Sublime  in  its  simplicity,  this  great  imperative,  ''  Go  Ye," 
is  framed  in  the  all-embracing  Love  of  God  for  a  lost 
world : 


Authority  hath  been  given  unto 
Its  height:  ^^  ^^  heaven  and  earth :  Go  Ye, 

therefore,  and  disciple 
A     I         I  Nations,  baptizing  them  into  the 

Its  breadth:   fl    I         I  2^"^^   °f  Jhe  Father  and  of  the 

fM    ■         ■  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  teach- 

WF^L   I         I  ing  them  to  observe 

Its  denth  •    f      ■  wmamt  Lhb    Things  vi^hatsoever     I  commanded 
'  you  :  and  Lo,  I  am  with  you 

Tu  Ipnofli .  The  Days,  even  unto  the  end  of 

lengm .  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^  ^g_^^^^ 

This  Royal  Command,  ''Go  Ye,"  expresses  the  centrif- 
ugal law  of  the  Spiritual  world.  It  is  the  necessary  com- 
plement of  the  centripetal  law,  ''  Come  unto  Me  "  (Matt. 
II  :  20).  These  two  forever  act  and  react  to  maintain  the 
equilibrium  in  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

This  great  word  which  brings  the  book  to  a  close,  recalls 
the  opening  sentence,  "  The  book  of  the  Generation  of  the 
Son  of  Abraham"  (i :  i).  To  Abraham  had  the  promise 
been  given,  "  In  thy  seed  shall  all  the  nations  of  the  earth 
be  blessed'  (Gen.  22  :  18).     "Now  to  Abraham  were  the 


The  New  Service  89 

promises  spoken  and  to  his  seed.  He  saith  not,  and  to 
seeds,  as  of  many :  but  as  of  one,  and  to  thy  Seed,  which 
is  Christ"  (Gal.  3:  16).  In  the  Son  of  Abraham  that 
promise  finds  fulfillment  unto  ''all  the  nations"  (28  :  19). 
Thus  the  cycle  is  completed — God's  purpose  now  becomes 
apparent  and  His  promise  is  thus  fulfilled. 


POINTS  FOR  REVIEW 

STUDY  VII 

THE  NEW  SERVICE:  WORDS  OF  WISDOM 

First  Day. 

How  is  the  Apostle's  Commission  distinguished  from  the  Great 
Commission  ? 

Note  the  scope  of  each  of  the  three  paragraphs  and  give  the  gist 
of  each. 

Second  Day. 

What  do  you  understand  to  be  the  nature  and  purpose  of  parable  ? 

What  do  the  seven  parables  of  the  first  group  cover  ? 

Of  the  various  interpretations  given,  which  appears  to  you  most 
satisfactory  ? 

Third  Day. 
What  was  the  occasion  for  the  eighth  and  ninth  parables? 
What  the  special  point  of  each  ? 

Fourth  Day. 

What  circumstances  called  forth  the  parable  of  the  Labourers  in 
the  Vineyard  ?     What  the  chief  point  ? 
What  called  forth  that  of  The  Two  Sons  ? 


go  The  Messiah 

What  the  chief  point  ? 

What  is  further  brought  out  in  the  parable  of  The  Householder  ? 

Fifth  Day. 

What  is  the  application  of  the  parable  of  The  Marriage  Feast  ? 

What  three  assaults  are  made  upon  Jesus,  and  how  does  He  meet 
each? 

What  words  does  He  utter  ? 

Sixth  Day. 

What  occasion  did  there  appear  then  to  be  for  the  predictions  of 
impending  calamity  ? 

How  were  these  fulfilled  ? 

What  is  yet  to  be  expected  ? 

What  does  the  parable  of  the  Servants  teach?  The  Virgins? 
The  Talents  ?    The  Sheep  and  the  Goats  ? 

Seventh  Day. 

What  four  dimensions  of  the  Divine  Love  are  indicated  in  the 
Great  Commission  ? 

What  connection  is  there  between  the  first  and  the  last  verse  of 
the  book  ? 


STUDY  VIII 

HIS  PROPITIATION— AS  PRIEST 

{i6  :  13-28  :  20) 

"  Not  in  soft  speech  is  told  the  earthly  story, 

Love  of  all  loves,  that  showed  Thee  for  an  hour, 
Shame  was  Thy  kingdom  and  reproach  Thy  glory, 
Death  Thine  eternity,  the  Cross  Thy  power." 

First  Day. — Forecasting  the  Cross  (16:21;  26 :  2). 

(i)  Before  He  can  become  King,  He  must  first  per- 
form the  priestly  office.  It  is  only  by  way  of  the  Altar 
that  He  can  ascend  the  Throne.  He  can  reach  the  Crown 
only  by  way  of  the  Cross.  Thus  only  can  He  be  forever- 
more  "a  Priest  upon  His  throne"  (Zech.  6:  13).  There 
are  five  specific  predictions  of  the  Crucifixion  recorded, 
but  even  as  far  back  as  when  first  sending  forth  the  Twelve 
He  had  given  a  vague  indication  when  He  said,  "  He  that 
doth  not  take  his  cross  and  follow  after  Me,  is  not  worthy 
of  Me"  (10  :  38).  Just  before  the  Transfiguration,  when 
Peter  had  made  his  great  confession  of  faith  in  the  Mes- 
siahship  of  Jesus,  the  first  clear  reference  to  the  coming 
cross  is  made.  Then  Peter  rebukes  Him  and  Jesus  plainly 
tells  the  earthly-minded  disciple  that  he  is  **a  stumbling- 
block,"  reminding  the  disciples  that  none  who  follow  Him 
can  avoid  the  cross. 

(2)  Immediately  after  the  glimpse  of  glory  had  been 
given  to  the  trio  on  the  mount,  once  more  He  points 
the  three  witnesses  on  to  the  time  when  the  Son  of  Man 

91 


92  The  Messiah 

would  "be  risen  from  the  dead"  (17:  9),  while  at  the 
same  time  He  reminds  them  that  He  must  "also  suffer" 
(17:  12). 

(3)  Again,  in  Galilee,  on  the  way  up  to  Jerusalem,  Jesus 
repeats  the  prediction,  this  time  to  all  of  the  Twelve  and 
in  more  minute  detail  (17:  22),  mentioning  "the  third 
day  "  as  the  time  when  He  would  be  raised  up. 

(4)  Again  when  approaching  Jerusalem,  He  takes  the 
Twelve  aside  and  tells  them  explicitly  (20;  17-19)  that 
Jew  and  Gentile  would  combine  to  put  Him  to  death,  and 
that  most  cruelly,  but  through  the  gloom  of  it  all  He 
looks  forward  still  to  the  sunrise  beyond ;  "the  third  day 
He  shall  be  raised  up." 

(5)  At  length,  two  days  before  the  crucifixion,  for  the 
last  time,  He  makes  the  announcement  (26  :  2),  speaking 
this  time  only  of  the  cross,  whereas  on  no  previous  occa- 
sion of  the  four,  had  He  spoken  of  the  Crucifixion,  with- 
out coupling  with  it  the  Resurrection.  But  He  is  entering 
now  into  the  deep  darkness  which  culminated  when  the 
Father's  face  was  withdrawn,  when  "  He  who  knew  no  sin 
became  sin  on  our  behalf"  (2  Cor.  5  :  21).  It  is  the  eve 
of  the  Passover,  and  He  identifies  Himself  with  the  Pascal 
Lamb — "The  Lamb  slain  from  before  the  foundation  of 
the  world"  (Rev.  13:8).  The  shadows  of  the  Cross 
which  had  been  cast  back  along  the  track  of  His  life  are 
now  closing  in  about  Him.  The  Sun  is  entering  into 
eclipse,  but  only  to  emerge  after  a  little,  "  with  healing  in 
His  wings"  (Mai.  4:  2). 

Second  Day.— Anointed  Unto  Burial  (26  :  6). 

Despite  the  deliberate  determination  of  the  Sanhedrim 
that — the  arrest  of  the  King  should  not  occur  "  during  the 
feast,  lest  a  turmoil  arise  among  the  people,"  that  was  the 


His  Propitiation — As  Priest  93 

very  time  when  the  hour  of  God's  purpose  was  to  strike. 
And  the  reversing  of  the  decision  of  men,  the  carrying  out 
of  the  plan  of  God,  was  to  turn  upon  the  expression  of  a 
woman's  lavish  love,  when  Mary  broke  the  alabaster  box 
of  spikenard  over  Jesus.  Stirred  to  indignation  at  what 
appeared  to  his  cupidity  as  nothing  less  than  shameless 
waste,  Judas  set  in  motion  the  train  of  events  that  culmi- 
nated in  the  crucifixion. 

The  Pascal  Lamb  must  be  slain  at  the  Passover  Feast. 
Thus  is  fulfilled  what  had  been  foreshadowed  for  1,500 
years  in  the  greatest  of  the  annual  feasts  at  Jerusalem. 

Third  Day.— "  As  a  Sheep  Before  Its  Shearers" 
(27:  1-31). 
The  antagonism  between  the  Jewish  leaders  and  "  The 
King  of  the  Jews"  was  inevitable  and  irreconcilable. 
Darkness  and  light  could  not  coexist.  Since  that  Sabbath 
day  when  Jesus  sanctioned  the  plucking  of  the  corn  by  His 
followers,  to  satisfy  their  hunger,  and  afterwards  in  the 
synagogue  healed  the  man  with  a  withered  hand  (i  2  :  1-14), 
and  later  cast  out  the  demon,  when  the  Pharisees  attrib- 
uted His  undeniable  power  to  Satanic  agency  (12:  22-37) 
the  struggle  had  never  ceased.  It  appeared  again  when 
Pharisees  and  Sadducees  combined  in  demanding  of  Him 
a  sign  from  heaven,  and,  flatly  refusing,  He  withdrew 
(16 :  1-4) ;  afterwards  He  had  warned  His  followers 
against  the  leaven  of  these  leaders  (16:  5-12).  Then 
came  the  combined  attack  of  Herodians,  Sadducees  and 
Pharisees,  with  their  puzzling  questions,  as  to  taxation, 
marriage  relations  beyond  the  grave  and  the  paramount 
requirement  of  the  Law,  all  of  which  He  had  met  with  the 
answer  of  an  unanswerable  question  concerning  Himself 
(22  :  1-46).     After  this  He  sternly  denounced  the  Phari- 


94  The  Messiah 

sees  in  scathing  terms,  openly  before  the  people  as  well  as 
before  His  disciples  (23  :  1-30).  And  now,  at  length, 
has  conspiracy  come  to  a  head.  Chief  priests,  under 
Caiaphas'  direction,  take  counsel  to  take  Jesus  by  subtlety 
and  put  Him  to  death  (26  :  1-5).  Judas  has  taken  the 
fateful  step,  in  betraying  the  Saviour  (26  :  47-56).  Pilate 
has  passed  sentence  (27  :  1-26).  With  Jew  and  Gentile 
alike  arrayed  against  Him,  He  fearlessly  asserts  His  claim 
to  be  the  King.  <'He  was  oppressed,  yet  when  He  was 
afflicted.  He  opened  not  His  mouth,  as  a  lamb  that  is  led 
to  the  slaughter  and  as  a  sheep  that  before  its  shearers  is 
dumb,  so  He  opened  not  His  mouth  "  (Isa.  53  :  7). 

Fourth  Day.— Offering  up  Himself  (27  :  45-53). 

Jesus  came  not  only  to  preach  the  Gospel,  but  that  there 
might  be  a  Gospel  to  preach.  Our  High  Priest  is  at  once 
the  offerer  and  the  offering.  **  He  offered  Himself  without 
blemish  unto  God"  (Heb.  9:  14).  ''We  behold  Him 
who  hath  been  made  a  little  lower  than  the  angels,  even 
Jesus,  because  of  the  suffering  of  death  crowned  with  glory 
and  honour,  that  by  the  grace  of  God  He  should  taste  of 
death  for  every  man  "  (Heb.  2  ;  9).  "  He  humbled  Him- 
self, becoming  obedient  even  unto  death,  yea  the  death 
of  the  cross"  (Phil.  2:8).  And  by  bearing  the  cross 
for  us,  Jesus  bore  the  cross  away.  That  implement  of 
most  cruel  torture  has  been  absolutely  abolished,  wher- 
ever Christ  has  become  known.  Indeed  He  has  converted 
the  symbol  of  shame  into  the  badge  of  highest  honour. 
"Such  a  priest  became  us,  holy,  guileless,  undefiled,  sep- 
arated from  sinners  and  made  higher  than  the  heavens ; 
who  needeth  not  daily,  like  (other)  high  priests,  to  offer 
up  sacrifices,  first  for  his  own  sins  and  then  for  the  sins  of 
the  people :  for  this  He  did  once  for  all,  when  He  offered 


His  Propitiation — As  Priest  95 

up  Himself  "  (Heb.  7  :  26-28).  *'  We  have  such  an  High 
Priest,  who  sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  in 
the  heavens  "  (Heb.  8:  i). 

Fifth  Day.— Risen  From  Among  the  Dead  (ch.  28). 

The  very  precautions  taken  by  the  Roman  authorities— 
in  placing  a  miHtary  guard  and  putting  upon  the  stone 
covering  the  entrance  the  government  seal,  to  break  which 
entailed  the  death  penalty— all  these  precautions  but  served 
as  additional  proofs  of  the  Resurrection.  The  testimony 
of  the  guard  as  to  what  was  said  to  have  taken  place  while 
they  were  asleep,  inadmissible  as  such  evidence  would  be 
in  any  court  on  earth,  only  served  yet  further  to  attest  the 
fact.  The  testimony  of  a  great  cloud  of  witnesses,  of 
whom  many  sealed  their  word  with  the  blood  of  martyrdom, 
left  no  reasonable  room  for  doubt,  that  He  not  only  rose 
from  the  grave,  but  likewise  through  the  parted  clouds 
passed  into  heaven  itself. 

He  died ;  He  arose.  These  two  hemispheres  constitute 
the  full-orbed  Gospel  of  the  Grace  of  God.  The  under 
hemisphere  has  its  pole  in  Calvary ;  the  upper,  in  heaven 
itself.  He  who  as  the  suffering  Saviour  underwent  for  us 
the  humiliation  of  the  cross,  is  now  exalted  to  be  "  the 
Priest  upon  His  throne  "  (Zech.  6  :  13),  our  Sovereign  King 
foreverraore. 


Sixth  Day.— The  Portrait  in  Perspective. 

Jesus  the  Christ,  what  a  picture  of  the  Messiah  is  here 
presented — at  once  King  and  Prophet  and  Priest !  De- 
scended along  the  royal  line,  born  in  royal  David's  city, 
hailed  with  royal  homage,  hated  of  a  royal  rival,  heralded 
by  His  Forerunner,  anointed  and  divinely  sealed,  fiercely 


96  The  Messiah 

assailed  by  the  Prince  of  this  world,  but  emerging  trium- 
phant from  the  awful  ordeal,  the  King  indeed  ! 

But,  before  His  royal  rule  can  be  recognized,  He  must 
don  the  Prophet's  robe  and  proclaim  the  basis  of  the  New 
Kingdom,  indicating  how  the  New  Man  under  the  New 
Law  is  to  live  the  New  Life.  Then  upon  this  Great  State 
Paper,  the  seals  of  supernatural  power  are  put,  attesting 
the  supremacy  of  Eternal  Life  over  every  phase  of  sin's 
power  and  pollution  and  penalty.  He  further  utters  words 
of  wisdom,  describing  the  character  of  the  Kingdom  and 
forecasting  the  final  outcome  of  His  reign. 

Then,  having  filled  the  Prophet's  role,  knowing  that 
there  could  be  no  crown  without  the  cross.  He  performs 
the  functions  of  the  Priest,  offering  up  Himself  as  the  all- 
sufficient  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world. 

And  after  all  is  finished.  He  rises  Victor  from  the  dark 
domain  and  manifests  Himself  as  the  King  again,  giving 
commandment  to  His  followers  before  going  up  to  take  His 
seat  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high.  Hallelujah, 
what  a  Saviour  I 


iik 


A   Summary  of  Matthew 

The  Gospel  of  the  Kingdom 
Key  :  "  Behold  My  Servant  I  "  (12:18) 


ClmpUr  rules 

n,  Messiah 

ConU,„s 

Works  of  l\m,er 

IVords  of   WnJom 

Generation 

1 

1 
2 

4 

(.1  His  Pedigree. 
(2|  His  Birth. 

Miracles 

Parables,  etc. 

Herod 

■ 

(3)  His  Royal  Homtige. 

(4)  His  Royal  Ri»al. 

Baptist 

' 

3 

4 

(6)  His  Anointing. 

Wiltierness 

I 

,7,  His  Testing. 

the  K.ngdom. 

Blessed 

= 

J 
6 

7 
8 

10 
11 
12 
13 
H 
15 
16 

II 

(4:l2-l6:.2) 

HIS 

P 
R 
0 
G 
R 
A 
M 

AS 

PROPHET 

5 
6 

7 
8 

9 
10 
11 
12 

(,)  His  Messengers. 

.    THE  GRE.Vr  STATE 
(   )  Th    N       M          '^*'^'^^- 

Secret 

* 

ic)'Th'iSL,T:;(';;"8) 

Tlie  Narrow  Gale 

'3 

■■ 

\  (4)  Physical  disturbance-tetipit 
1(5)   Mental  derangement-denionia 

cs('a8) 

3 

(3)  His  Royal  Seals: 
(A)  Works  of  Power, 

lUercy 

■3 

/irL?f="r"n'e?eShT'oTdi"or^' 

ven  (il 

Authority 

■ 

Rest 

28 

24 

( !1)  Vbio".°vota:Td  hearing'..) 

. 

The  Kingdom 

■■ 

13 
'4 
IS 
16 

17 
18 

,B,  Words  of  Wisdon,. 

IlilSij! 

5000 

- 

(■31  Providing  food  for  His  own 

1(7)  The  net  (47) 

Crumbs 

27 

(.5)  Blessing  Gentiles-Caanan- 
(,6)'providing  food  for  others 

The  Keys 

■9 

Transfigured 

- 

'7 
18 

'9 
20 
21 
22 
23 

III 
(.6:.3-28:2o) 

P 
R 
0 
P 

T 

I 
A 
T 
I 
0 
N 

AS 
PRIEST 

(.7,Res^..c„nscious„ess_ 

i^!Sis;^3^l^:?^i:t3> 

Eternal  Life 

. 

19 
20 

Last-First 

.0 

4th          •■          (I,) 

(.5)  Vision  restored  again 
-^  blind  (a,) 

labourers  (,) 

Hosanna 

9 

21 

Capital. 

'"'-figteT;:')"""'""" 

(12)  Householder  seeking 

Questions 

46 

22 

24 
25 
26 

27 

(.3)  Marriage  feast  (.) 

Woe 

'3 

[WOES] 

Tribulation 

- 

24 
26 

(WARNINGS] 
(t4)  The  faithful  servant  (45) 

The  Throne 

3> 

S:^ill;e;»s;?(y 

The  Cup 

27 

Sih  Prediction  |.) 
(3)  Anointed  unto  Bnrial. 

The  Veil 

S' 

27 
28 

(,)  Offering  Himself  up. 

All 

18 

28 

S,  Raised  op  ,0  Reign. 

(..,  The  Resurrection  (., 

...    THE  GREAT  COMMIS- 
SION (iS-^o) 

His  Propitiation — As  Priest  97 

POINTS  FOR  REVIEW 
STUDY  VIII 

HIS  PROPITIATION  AS  PRIEST 

First  Day. 

What  other  ofl&ce  must  the  King  perform  before  coming  to  the 
crown  ? 
On  what  occasions  does  He  forecast  His  crucifixion  ? 

Second  Day. 

How  was  the  determination  of  the  Jews  to  defer  the  death  of  Jesus 
until  after  the  Passover  defeated  ? 

Third  Day. 

Trace  the  development  of  antagonism  to  Jesus  through  this  book. 
What  prophecies  of  Isaiah  are  fulfilled  in  the  trial  of  Jesus  ? 

Fourth  Day. 

What  was  the  prime  purpose  for  which  Jesus  came  into  the  world  ? 
How  has  He  transformed  the  Cross  ? 

Fifth  Day. 

How  did  the  Jewish  and  Roman  authorities  make  more  sure  the 
evidence  of  Jesus'  resurrection  ? 

What  two  great  hemispheres  go  to  make  up  the  full-orbed  truth  of 
the  Gospel  ? 

Sixth  Day. 
Go  over  the  main  points  of  the  portrait  as  a  whole. 

Seventh  Day. 
Review  the  book  in  outline. 


PART  SECOND 

DEVOTIONAL    MEDITATIONS 

Arranged  for  Daily  Use  in  the  Quiet  Hour 


INTRODUCTORY 

These  Meditations  were  not  originally  prepared  for 
publication.  In  passing  them  on  for  whatever  benefit  they 
may  be  to  others,  the  hope  is  that  they  may  serve  to  sug- 
gest how  an  average  Christian,  be  he  ever  so  busy,  may 
yet,  by  the  simple  method  ^  here  applied,  get  day  by  day 
his  daily  bread  from  the  inexhaustible  supply  of  the  Word 
of  God.  There  is  no  greater  need  to-day  than  to  translate 
the  Truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  into  the  every-day  life  of  men. 
To  vitally  relate  the  will  of  God,  as  revealed  in  His  Holy 
Word,  to  "the  common  round,  the  daily  task,"  that 
cannot  but  strengthen  and  sweeten  life  in  every  way. 
And  many  a  man  fails  in  this  from  sheer  lack  of  some 
such  plan  as  is  here  applied,  which  while  adequate  is  yet 
not  too  elaborate.  If  the  notes  here  given  were  more 
finished,  they  might  not  serve  so  well  to  stimulate  those 
whom  a  less  simple  and  more  exacting  method  might  de- 
ter. If  they  help  to  realize  more  practical  results  in 
daily,  devotional  Bible  Study,  they  will  have  served  their 
purpose. 

1  See  page  15  for  an  explanation  of  the  plan. 


lOI 


FIRST  DAY 

MATTHEW   I. 

Title: 

*'  Generations^  (vs.  i,  17). 

Thought : 

In  this  compendium  of  history  and  prophecy,  there  is 
described  the  descent  of  Christ  through  David  from 
Abraham  (1-17)  and  His  Birth  (18-25). 

Truth : 

[//  is  earnestly  recommended  that  each  one  for  himself 
dig  as  for  hid  treasure  in  quest  of  the  truth  embedded  in 
the  portion  for  each  day^  before  referring  to  the  notes 

HERE  GIVEN.] 

(i)     "  The  Son  of  Davidr 

Lo,  the  King  is  coming  !  A  royal  procession,  with 
monarchs  in  their  regal  robes  and  pomp  of  power,  moves 
down  the  centuries  towards  the  cradle  of  the  Christ.  No 
tolling  of  the  death  knell  here  is  heard,  as  in  the  cemetery 
chapter,  the  fifth  of  Genesis  ("and  he  died  .  .  .  died 
.  .  .  died  "),  but  chimes  announce  the  birth  of  "  the 
Heir  of  all  things  "  (Heb.  i  :  2).  Swiftly  this  procession 
of  human  life,  with  its  lights  and  shadows,  files  by.  The 
picture  is  sketched  only  in  bare  outline,  omitting  all  de- 
tails, the  chief  actors  passing  swiftly  on  without  a  halt 
until  Bethlehem  is  reached.  And  there  the  procession 
pauses  at 

«'  A  lowly  cattle  shed 
Where  a  mother  laid  her  baby 
In  a  manger  for  His  bed. 
103 


104  'T^^  Messiah  ' 

(3,  5,  6,  16)  *' Tamar  ,  .  .  /^a/iad  .  .  .  jRufh 
.  .  .  Bathsheba  .  .  .  Mary.'' 

Five  women  appear  in  this  passion-play  of  human  life 
and  on  most  of  them  "  the  trail  of  the  serpent  "  is  seen. 
Through  Rahab  and  Ruth  we  Gentiles  are  admitted  to  a 
share  with  the  Royal  Seed.  **  Him  who  knew  no  sin,  God 
made  to  be  sin  for  us  "  (2  Cor.  5:21).  He  came  into 
contact  with  the  taint  of  human  heredity,  in  order  that  He 
might  take  out  that  taint.  Have  I  let  Him  take  it  out  of 
me  ? 

(20)  "  When  he  thought,  behold  an  angel  .  .  . 
saying,  Fear  not.'' 

It  pays  to  take  time  to  think.  What  a  fatal  blunder 
Joseph  would  have  made,  had  he  acted  on  his  first  impulse. 
It  is  when  I  act  without  stopping  to  think  that  I  make 
mistakes.  Is  it  the  habit  of  my  life  always  to  think  before 
acting  ? 

(23)     '' Immanuel    .     .     .     God  with  us.'* 

All  time  divides  into  three  days  :  (i)  *•  In  the  begin- 
ning, God  "  (Gen.  i  :  i),  "  God  for  us"  (Rom.  8  :  31), 
"  the  Father  of  an  infinite  majesty  "  ;  (2)  "  God  with  us  '* 
(Matt.  I  :  23),  "  His  only  begotten  Son,  our  Lord  "  ;  (3) 
"  God  in  us  "  (i  Cor.  3:16;  2  Cor.  6  :  19),  *'  The  Holy 
Spirit,  the  Comforter."  It  is  only  as  I  enter  into  the  rich 
possibilities  of  to-day,  that  I  can  appreciate  the  full  sig- 
nificance of  yesterday  and  the  day  before.  Only  as  to- 
day I  come  to  know  the  meaning  of  God  in  me,  shall  I 
fully  realize  what  is  wrapped  up  in  that  wonderful  name, 
*'  Immanuel"  ;  "  God  was  in  Christ  reconciling  the  world 
unto  Himself"  (2  Cor.  5  :  19).  And  as  the  fact  of  the 
earthly  life  of  my  Lord  Jesus  unfolds  more  and  more  fully 
to  me,  I  shall  come  into  the  light  of  the  third  day,  and 


Devotional  Meditations  105 

know  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt,   that  the  Spirit  of 
God  dwelleth  in  me  (i  Cor.  3 :  16). 

Text :  \^Each  one  should  determine  individually 
what  is  the  special  message  to  himself  for  the  day. 
It  may  be  that  the  light  may  flash  from  none  of  the 
truths  suggested  in  these  notes,  but  from  some 
other  passage.  Let  each  one  wait  in  quietness  for 
the  Spirit  to  reveal  the  message  meant  for  himself. 
Of  the  several  passages  on  which  the  mind  may 
dwell  in  meditation,  check  on  the  margin  the  one 
which  is  borne  in  as  the  golden-text  for  "  Daily 
Bread."] 

Prayer : 

Blessed  Son  of  God,  through  whose  infinite  condescension 
we  have  become,  by  faith  in  Thee,  sons  of  Abraham  (Gal. 
3  :  7),  grant  that  ''  upon  the  Gentiles  may  come  the  bless- 
ing of  Abraham  in  Christ  Jesus"  ;  that  they  and  we  to- 
gether may  receive  *'  the  promise  of  the  Spirit  through 
faith"  (Gal.  3:  14). 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


io6  The  Messiah 


SECOND  DAY 

MATTHEW  2. 

Title: 

''Herod''  (vs.  i,  3,  7,  15,  etc.). 

Thought : 

The  Magi  having  offered  their  homage  to  Jesus  (1-12), 
Joseph  is  warned  to  flee  into  Egypt  (13-15)  and  the 
jealousy  of  Herod  flames  forth  in  the  slaughter  of  the  in- 
nocents (16-23). 

Truth: 

(2)     "  Where  is  He  that  is  born  King  ?  " 

All  men  that  are  truly  wise  are  still  asking  this  same 
question,  and  among  them  the  thoughtful  men  of  the  East. 
They  of  the  Orient  have  taken  up  this  query,  "■  Where  is 
the  King?  "  an  inquiry  which  grows  out  of  this  actual  ex- 
perience, "We  have  seen  His  star  in  the  East,"  and  is 
fast  crystallizing  into  the  purpose,  *' We  are  come  to  wor- 
ship Him."  Witness  the  present  attitude  of  the  "  students  " 
of  Japan,  China,  India  and  other  parts  of  the  East.  Am 
I  showing  as  much  of  spiritual  aspiration  and  persistence 
in  pursuit  of  truth  as  these  wise  men  of  the  East  ? 

(5)     '' The  Prophetr 

Revelation  takes  up  the  thread  where  science  stops 
short.  But  the  two  cooperate ;  they  do  not  conflict  or 
compete.  I  need  to  know  more  of  both.  Am  I  studying 
both  with  due  diligence  ? 

(11)    "  They  fell  down  and  worshipped  Him,  *  * 


Devotional  Meditations  107 

The  very  first  worship  of  Christ  was  by  non-Christians. 
How  charitable  it  should  make  us  towards  the  men  of  the 
East,  who  have  grown  up  among  their  heathen  philosophies 
and  idolatries  and  yet  thus  readily  respond  to  so  slight  a 
knowledge  of  our  Saviour  !  How  much  we  may  learn  from 
them,  of  reverence  in  worship,  as  they  "fall  down  on 
their  faces  and  worship  the  Lamb  "  ! 

(11)  "  And  opening  their  treasures ^  they  offered  unto 
Him  gifts:' 

The  non-Christian  does  not  have  a  cheap  religion.  He 
is  not  like  the  old  deacon  who  said  he  thanked  God  that 
the  gospel  was  free ;  he  had  been  a  member  of  the  Church 
for  thirty  years  and  it  had  not  cost  him  a  cent.  These 
"heathen  "  brought  gifts  as  an  essential  part  of  their  wor- 
ship. The  widow  who  "cast  in  two  mites,  which  make  a 
farthing,"  gave  "all  that  she  had,  even  all  her  living" 
(Mark  12  :  44).  Reckoned  according  to  the  costliness  of 
my  gifts,  how  much  is  my  worship  worth  ? 

Prayer : 

O  Thou  who  wast  Thyself  born  in  the  East,  look  down 
in  tender  regard  upon  the  people  of  the  Orient,  who  to-day 
are  turning  their  faces  Christward.  Having  seen  "  the 
Star,"  may  they  soon  come  to  see  Thee,  the  King,  that 
they  and  we  may  at  length  bow  down  in  joyful  worship  at 
Thy  feet  and  crown  Thee  Lord  of  all. 

Through  Thine  own  infinite  mercy  and  grace, 

Amen, 


io8  The  Messiah 


THIRD  DAY 

MATTHEW  3. 

Title: 

''Baptist'''  (v.  i). 

Thought : 

John  baptizing  (1-12),  Jesus  comes  and  receives  not 
only  the  baptism   of  water   but,  likewise,  of  the   Spirit 

Truth: 

(3)     ''  The  Voicer 

A  "  voice  "  is  not  seen  but  heard ;  and  that  is  suggestive 
of  the  attitude  which  the  Christian  should  take.  He  who 
thus,  in  self-effacement,  witnesses  ever  to  the  Truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus,  even  though  it  be  ''  in  the  wilderness,"  will  find 
another  witnessing  to  his  spirit  that  he  is  a  son  of  God 
(Rom.  8  :  16).     Is  this  my  usual  experience? 

(8)  "  Bring  forth,  therefore  y  fruit  worthy  of  repent- 
ance ^ 

The  one  valid  proof  of  a  change  of  heart  is  a  conse- 
quent change  in  character  and  conduct.  If  I  am  not 
more  meek  and  gentle,  more  patient  and  long-suffering, 
more  pure  in  heart  and  true  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  it  is 
worse  than  useless  to  say  that  I  have  received  the  Holy 
Spirit.  For  *'  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace, 
long-suffering,  gentleness,  kindness,  goodness,  faithfulness, 
meekness,  self-control  "  (Gal.  5:22). 

(14)     **  7  have  need  to  be  baptized  of  Thee" 


Devotional  Meditations  109 

If  John  had  need,  how  much  more  have  I  !  My  unut- 
terable need  is  itself  a  mute  appeal  to  Him  who  alone  can 
baptize  in  the  Holy  Spirit  now,  and  who  will  one  day, 
likewise,  baptize  "in  fire  "(v.  11).  And  God  makes  no 
**  half-hinge."  The  very  existence  of  the  need  implies  the 
supply.     Hence 

"  My  need  and  His  great  fullness  meet 
And  I  have  all." 

(16)     ''As  a  Dover 

As  the  lion,  the  king  of  the  beasts  of  the  earth,  is  taken 
as  the  symbol  of  the  Son,  so  the  most  pure  and  gentle  and 
sensitive  of  the  birds  of  the  heaven  is  chosen  to  be  the 
symbol  of  the  Spirit.  At  St.  Petersburg,  along  the  river 
Neva,  flocks  of  birds  feed  upon  the  grain,  quite  undis- 
turbed, for  the  peasants  fear  to  touch  them,  lest  they  may 
do  violence  to  the  Holy  Spirit.  Am  I  as  anxious  to  avoid 
grieving  Him? 


Prayer 


«'  Come,  gracious  Spirit,  heavenly  Dove, 
With  light  and  comfort  from  above. 
Be  Thou  our  Guardian,  Thou  our  Guide, 
O'er  every  thought  and  step  preside. 

«'  Conduct  us  safe,  conduct  us  far 
From  every  sin  and  hurtful  snare ; 
Lead  us  to  Christ,  the  Living  Way, 
Nor  let  us  from  His  pastures  stray. 

"  Lead  us  to  holiness,  the  road, 
That  we  must  take  to  dwell  with  God, 
Lead  us  to  God,  our  final  rest. 
To  be  with  Him  forever  blest." 


110  The  Messiah 


FOURTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  4:  i-il. 

Title: 

"  The  Wilderness  "  (v.  i). 

Thought : 

The  threefold  temptation  successfully  withstood  by  Jesus 
(i-i  2),  upon  John's  arrest  He  withdraws  to  Galilee  (13-16). 

Truth ; 

(i)     ''Jesus     .     .     .     the  Spirit    .     .     .     the  devil :' 
Here  is  the  battle-field  of  human  life.     For  every  soul, 
two  parties  are  contending.     Every  one  must  be  subjected 
to  the  supreme  test  of  choosing  life  or  death. 

"  Once  to  every  man  and  nation 
Comes  the  moment  to  decide." 

Even  the  Son  of  God  could  not  become  the  Son  of  Man 
without  undergoing  this  ordeal.  Surely  I  cannot  expect  to 
be  exempt.  And,  just  as  the  South  Sea  Islanders  hold  that 
the  strength  of  the  vanquished  enters  into  the  victor,  so 
not  only  should  each  victory  help  me  some  other  to  win, 
but  it  should  help  me  the  better  to  help  some  one  else  to 
win. 

(i)     ''Tempted:' 

He  must  be  "tempted  in  all  points  like  as  we'* 
(Heb.  4  :  15)  in  order  that  He  may  be  in  a  position  "to 
succour  them  that  are  tempted  "  (Heb.  2  :  18).  Hence  He 
runs  the  whole  gauntlet  of  temptation.  As  with  the  Iron 
Duke,  "the  battle  of  Waterloo  was  won  on  the  Rugby 


Devotional  Meditations  1 1 1 

football  field."  So  Jesus  ''waged  war  by  prearrange- 
raent  "  long  before  the  Adversary  attacked  Him.  He  had 
put  on  "the  whole  armour  of  God"  so  as  to  be  "able 
to  withstand  and,  having  done  all,  to  stand"  (Eph.  6  : 
14,  15).  "Truth  .  .  .  righteousness  .  .  .  the 
gospel  .  .  .  faith  .  .  .  salvation  ...  the 
Word  of  God  .  .  .  prayer,"  all  of  these  entered  into 
the  preparation  which  He  had  long  been  making  against 
"  the  evil  day."  Let  me  look  well  to  my  armour  and  see 
whether  any  part  be  lacking  and  whether  all  is  kept  bright. 

(3)     ''If  Thou  art  the  Son  of  God:' 

The  temptation  to  distrust  God's  grace  as  well  as  His 
providence  comes  to  every  man.  A  "Son  of  God"  in- 
deed, when  everything  seems  to  be  going  wrong  with  me  ! 
What  evidence  does  my  life  afford  of  being  a  partaker  of 
"the  Divine  nature  "?  (2  Pet.  i  :  4).  Here  is  the  an- 
swer :  "  It  is  written  (v.  4)  in  "  His  precious  and  exceed- 
ing great  promises  "  (2  Pet.  i  :  4),  upon  which  I  fall  back 
and  rest. 

(5)     "  Then  the  devil  taketh  Him  into  the  city:' 

If  there  are  temptations  peculiar  to  solitude,  there  are 
others,  no  less  formidable,  to  be  met  in  the  midst  of  the 
multitude.  In  the  crowd  comes  the  temptation  to  pre- 
sumptiony  even  as  the  temptation  to  doubt  comes  when 
alone.  I  need  not  be  ignorant  of  the  devil's  devices  and 
hence  may  be  proof  against  them,  alike  in  the  city  and  the 
country,  since  "  forewarned  is  forearmed."  But  oh  !  how 
many  a  man  meets  his  undoing  when  taken  into  the  city. 

(8)  "  Again  .  .  .  unto  an  exceeding  high  moun- 
tain:' 

As  the  deepest  valleys  lie  hard  by  the  highest  peaks,  so 
it  is  from  the  points  of  greatest  elevation  in  life  that  the 
descent  into  the  deepest  depths  of  degradation  not  uncom- 


112  The  Messiah 

monly  commences.  At  such  crises,  of  all  others,  I  need 
to  watch  and  pray  and  say  without  delay,  "  Get  thee 
hence,  Satan,"  no  matter  though  the  temptation  appear 
"as  an  angel  of  light. " 

(ii)  ''  Then  the  devil  leave th  Him  and  behold  angels 
came  and  niitiistered  ufito  Him^ 

A  firm  attitude  of  uncompromising  resistance,  refusing 
instantly  every  suggestion  of  Satan,  is  a  sure  way  to  win 
the  victory.     "  Resist  the  devil  and  he  will  flee  "  (Jas.  4  :  7). 

He  who  takes  "the  form  of  a  servant"  (Phil.  2  :  6)  is 
served  by  angels.  But,  while  the  temptation  is  described 
so  fully,  not  a  detail  is  given  of  this  ministry  of  the  angels. 
God  would  prepare  me  for  being  tempted  of  the  devil,  but 
He  does  not  encourage  me  to  be  expecting  angelic  enter- 
tainment. 

Prayer : 

««  O  Saviour  Christ,  Thou,  too,  art  man  ; 

Thou  hast  been  troubled,  tempted,  tried ; 
Thy  kind  but  searching  glance  can  scan 
The  very  wounds  that  shame  would  hide ; 

"  Thy  touch  has  still  its  ancient  power ; 
No  word  from  Thee  can  fruitless  fall ; 
Hear  in  this  solemn  evening  hour, 
And  in  Thy  mercy  heal  us  all." 

Amen, 


Devotional  Meditations  113 


FIFTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  4: 12-25. 
Title  : 

"  The  Wilderness''  (v.  i). 

Thought ; 

Jesus  leaves  Galilee  (12-16),  begins  His  public  minis- 
try (17),  calls  the  first  four  disciples  (18-24)  and  enters 
upon  His  threefold  program  of  teaching,  preaching  and 
healing  (23-25). 

Truth : 

(17)  '*  From  that  time  began  Jesus  to  preach'* 
There  are  fresh  points  of  departure  in  every  growing 
life.  What  was  the  last  such  mile-post  in  my  progress  ? 
Have  I  begun  really  to  *' preach  "  ?  Have  I  begun  too 
soon  ?  Jesus  began  after  being  tested  and  anointed  (Luke 
4:16). 

(19)  * '  /  will  make  you  fishers  of  men. '  * 
The  Master  knows  how  to  make  the  most  of  whatever 
training  a  man  may  have  to  start  with ;  He  utilizes  to  the 
full  any  skill  or  fitness  He  finds.  Only  the  fisherman  can 
teach  others  how  to  fish.  To  catch  men  :  (i)  I  must 
go  where  men  are ;  (2)  use  that  which  attracts  them ; 
(3)  be  patient;  (4)  avoid  coming  between  them  and 
the  Sun,  lest  the  shadows  I  cast  drive  them  away  from 
Him. 

(23)  '*  Teaching  .  .  .  preaching  .  .  .  heal- 
ing:' 


1 14  The  Messiah 

Ours  is  an  all-round  gospel.  It  is  Divine  Life  applied 
to  human  need  on  all  sides.  He  sends  His  disciples  forth 
"teaching"  the  mind,  ''preaching"  to  the  heart  and 
"healing"  the  body.  This  is  the  missionary  program 
to-day.  The  whole  range  of  life  is  to  be  redeemed.  Not 
an  item  is  to  be  omitted.  The  several  tangents  on  which 
men  have  swung  away  from  the  centre  are  due  to  neglect 
in  the  first  instance  of  a  certain  side  of  the  gospel  and 
then  an  over-emphasis  of  the  same,  in  an  attempt  to  make 
up  the  deficiency.  It  is  when  one  side  of  truth  is  neglected 
or  another  over-stated  so  as  to  make  up  for  deficiency, 
that  men  get  off  on  to  tangents  and  lose  the  balance  of 
truth.     Am  I  holding  the  gospel  in  its  entirety  ? 

Prayer : 

O  Thou  who  wast  anointed  with  the  Holy  Spirit  and 
with  power  and  wentest  about  doing  good  and  healing  all 
that  were  oppressed  of  the  devil,  anoint  all  of  Thy  dis- 
ciples, likewise,  that  they  may  truly  follow  Thee.  So  fill 
us  that  we  may  be  enabled  to  meet  all  the  needs  of  all  with 
whom  we  come  into  contact,  whether  that  need  be 
physical,  mental  or  spiritual,  that  Thy  saving  health  may 
be  known  among  all  people. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


Devotional  Meditations  115 


SIXTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  5 :  1-16. 
Title : 

''Blessed'''  (vs.  5-11). 

Thought : 

Jesus  gives  forth  the  Great  Proclamation  of  the  King- 
dom, embracing  a  sketch  of  the  New  Man  (1-16)  under 
the  New  Law  (17-48). 

Truth: 

(i)  <'  And  seeing  the  multitudes^  He  went  up  into  the 
mountain  y 

"And  when  He  was  come  down  from  the  mountain, 
great  multitudes  followed  Him  "  (8  :  i  ).  There  are  times 
when,  in  order  to  help  the  multitude,  the  man  of  God 
must  get  away  from  the  multitudes.  Only  as  I  get  away 
from  the  crowd  and  alone  with  God,  will  I  be  prepared  to 
unfold  the  Word  of  Life.  As  one  has  said,  **I  must  be 
Moses  pleading  on  the  Mount,  if  I  would  be  Joshua,  vic- 
torious in  the  daily  strife." 

(3)     ''Blessed:' 

Happiness  may  depend  upon  what  happens,  but  blessed- 
ness strikes  its  roots  deeper  down  into  the  river-bed  of 
Eternal  Righteousness.  The  one  has  to  do  with  human 
circumstances,  while  the  other  deals  with  divine  character. 
Let  me  never  be  content  to  be  merely  happy,  when  mine 
is  the  greater  privilege  of  being  "  blessed." 


1 16  The  Messiah 

(13)  "  Ve  are  the  salt  of  the  earth  .  .  .  the 
light  r 

The  man  who  has  himself  been  blessed,  is  to  become  a 
blessing  to  others.  *'  I  will  bless  thee,  and  be  thou  a  bless- 
ing "  (Gen.  12  :  i),  was  the  promise-command  to  Abraham 
when  he  was  sent  forth.  And  such  blessing  should  be- 
come manifest  in  two  ways — within  and  without :  subject- 
ively, it  acts  as  "  salt,"  giving  tone  to  the  whole  inner  life; 
objectively,  it  should  be  as  a  burning  and  shining  light, 
— '^a  lamp"  (i)  in  the  ''house"  (locally),  (2)  in  the 
"city"  (nationally),  (3)  in  the  world  (universally). 
''The  light  that  shines  the  farthest,  shines  brightest 
nearest  home." 

Prayer : 

O  Thou  who  art  Thyself  "  the  light  of  the  world  "  and 
hast  honoured  Thy  people  by  appointing  them,  likewise, 
to  be  "  the  light  of  the  world,"  help  us  to  keep  our  lamps 
trimmed  and  burning  and  to  have  oil  always  in  our  ves- 
sels with  the  lamps. 

"  O  light  that  followest  all  my  way, 
I  yield  my  flickering  torch  to  Thee : 
My  heart  restores  its  borrowed  ray, 
That  in  Thy  sunshine's  blaze  its  day 
May  brighter,  fairer  be." 

Amen, 


Devotional  Meditations  117 


SEVENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  5  :  17-48. 
Title : 

''  Blessed'' (ys.  5-1 1) 

Thought : 

As  the  first  section  of  this  chapter  presents  the  New 
Man,  so  from  the  seventeenth  verse  on,  is  set  forth  the 
New  Law. 

Truth  : 

(20)     "  Your  Righteousness y 

The  way  that  Jesus  proceeds  to  make  the  Kingdom  of 
Righteousness,  is  by  making  a  really  righteous  man  and 
multiplying  him,  after  his  kind :  thus  He  makes  the  king- 
dom. As  "  the  righteous  Lord  loveth  righteousness " 
(Psalm.  11:7),  so  the  righteous  man  will  fulfill  the  **  royal 
law  '*  (James.  2:8);  that  law  must  regulate  his  whole  life, 
from  centre  to  circumference : 

(i)     His  w///— no  un-kind  feeling  (vs.  21-26) 

Q2)     His  mind — no  un-chaste  thought  (27-32) 

(3)  His  speech — no  un-true  word  (33-37) 

(4)  His  conduct — no  un-generous  act  (38-42) 

but  always  and  only  Love  (43-48).  How  marvellously  the 
Son  of  Man  understands  men.  He  begins  at  the  core, 
and  dealing  first,  with  the  very  root  of  the  matter,  in  the 
will,  moves  outward  to  the  uttermost  circumference  of  the 
life,  renewing  every  part. 
(23)     *' Against  Thee:' 


li8  The  Messiah 

I  can  make  no  offering  that  God  will  accept,  so  long  as 
I  have  done  any  wrong  to  another  which  has  not  been 
confessed  and  set  right.  Later  on,  there  is  the  still  deeper 
lesson  for  me  to  learn,  that  so  long  as  I  do  not  forgive  an- 
other who  has  done  me  a  wrong,  I  cannot  pray  effectually 
(Matt.  8:  15).  Have  I  fully  learned  the  first  of  these 
lessons  ? 

Prayer  : 

O  Thou  who  art'Thyself  our  Righteousness,  make  us  right 
through  and  through.  May  the  meditations  of  our  hearts 
and  the  words  of  our  lips  and  every  act  of  our  lives  be  ac- 
ceptable in  Thy  sight,  Jesus  our  Righteousness. 

Amen, 


Devotional  Meditations  119 


EIGHTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  6  :  1-1$. 

Title  : 

''Secret''  (v.  4). 

Thought : 

This  is  but  a  fragment  of  the  description,  in  chapters  6 
and  7,  of  the  New  Life  of  the  New  Man  who  lives  under 
the  New  Law.  To-day's  portion  includes  the  two  great 
duties  of  Giving  (2-4)  and  Praying  (5-15).  In  the  latter 
paragraph  He  first  tells  how  to  pray,  then  for  what^  giving 
to  His  disciples  the  model  prayer. 

Truth  : 

(i)     "  Your  Righteousness y 

Righteousness  once  realized  to  any  extent  must  be  ex- 
pressed. Then  comes  the  temptation  to  unreality — to 
give  an  expression  beyond  the  actual  possession — in  short, 
hypocrisy.  And  there  is  nothing  that  the  Righteous  Lord 
who  "loveth  righteousness"  (Psalm  11  :  7)  so  hates  as 
He  hates  hypocrisy.     Is  there  any  in  me  ? 

(4)     ''In  secret:' 

The  common  term  in  the  equation  of  the  Giving  and 
Praying  life  is,  that  both  are  to  be  quite  free  from  all 
self-assertion.  This  New  Life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God 
(Col.  3:3).  As  the  sources  of  the  river  are  to  be  traced 
up  to  the  solitude  of  the  mountain -tops,  so  the  springs  of 
every  life  that  flows  like  a  river  (Is.  48  :  18)  are  far  out 
of  sight.     So  important  does  our  Lord  deem  this  to  be, 


120  The  Messiah 

that  in  outlining  the  program  of  the  New  Life  which  He 
came  to  enable  us  to  live,  this  is  the  one  point  upon  which 
He  insists  :  it  must  be  *'  in  secret."  Whatever  else  should 
characterize  my  Giving  and  Praying  and  Fasting,  each  must 
be  kept  well  out  of  sight,  for  these  are  flowers  that  will  not 
bloom  in  the  open ;  if  exposed  to  the  glare  of  publicity, 
they  are  sure  to  wither  away. 

(6)     *'  Enter  into  thine  inner  chafnber^ 

This  is  '*  the  counting  room"  in  "the  King's  business." 
Just  in  proportion  as  a  man  is  continually  taking  in  here, 
will  he  be  giving.  Yet  in  outlining  the  New  Life,  the 
Lord  puts  Giving  before  Praying.  For  if  a  man  go  on 
robbing  God,  how  is  there  to  be  any  efl'ectual  praying  in 
that  man's  life?  Let  him  first  widen  the  outlet  by  Giving, 
and  then  only  can  the  inlet  be  deepened  for  Praying. 
God's  giving  is  conditioned  on  my  living;  and  generous 
godlike  giving  is  one  of  the  best  possible  proofs  of  genu- 
ine godly  living. 

Prayer : 

Lord,  make  me  real ;  save  me  from  hypocrisy.  Teach 
me  to  give  more  generously.  Lead  me  into  a  wider  min- 
istry in  serving  others  and  a  deeper  life  of  communion  with 
Thyself. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen. 


Devotional  Meditations  121 


NINTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  6  :  16-7  :  12. 

Title : 

''Secret''  (v.  4). 

Thought : 

The  subject  of  Prayer  is  unfolded  from  6  :  5  to  7  :  12, 
each  of  the  intervening  paragraphs  being  directly  related 
to  this  main  theme.  Fasting  (6 :  i6-i8)  may  be  used  as  a 
help  to  prayer  (in  a  broader  sense  than  that  of  mere 
abstinence  from  food),  and  the  hindrances  of  worrying 
about  things  (6 :  19-34),  and  of  judging  other  people  (7 : 1-5) 
must,  likewise,  be  put  away  ;  then,  when  guarded  against 
wasting  the  "  pearls  "  obtained  in  answer  to  prayer  (7:6), 
the  New  Man  is  ready  to  pass  on  to  the  higher  degree  of 
Intercessory  Prayer  (7  :  7-12). 

Truth : 

(25)     *'  Be  not  anxious^ 

The  life  that  thus  has  its  springs  in  the  unseen  and 
eternal,  will  not  be  easily  moved  by  shifting  circumstances. 
For,  instead  of  looking  at  God  in  the  light  of  circum- 
stances, it  will  regard  every  circumstance  in  the  light  of 
God,  looking  upon  everything  through  the  light  of  His 
Word.  Hence  there  need  be  no  anxiety  about  food  and 
raiment  or  anything  else.  "■  Having  food  and  covering 
we  shall  therewith  be  content  "  (i  Tim.  6  :  8).  In  fact, 
under  these  two  heads  pretty  much  every  item  of  expense 
may  be  included.     The  house  in  which  I  live  is  only  the 


122  The  Messiah 

outer  covering  for  ray  body.  Education  is  one  of  the 
kinds  of  food  which  my  nature  demands.  Now  the  good 
God  would  never  make  a  creature  without  providing  for 
all  his  real  needs ;  hence,  I  need  never  have  any  anxiety, 
any  more  than  a  bird  is  bothered  about  its  food,  or  a  lily 
as  to  its  dress,  provided  I  am  busy  about  my  Father's  af- 
fairs. For  while  I  care  enough  about  Him  to  be  about 
His  business,  He  will  surely  relieve  me  of  all  care  about 
myself.  He  who  neglects  neither  Giving  nor  Praying 
will  never  have  need  for  worrying  and  will  never  yield  to 
the  sin  of  judging  others. 

Prayer : 

Lord,  may  the  springs  of  my  life  be  so  hidden  in  the 
secret  place  of  the  Most  High  that  the  issues  thereof  may 
be  unhindered  by  any  anxieties.  Enable  me  to  do  my 
part  in  so  deepening  the  channels  of  my  life  that  the 
streams  may  indeed  widen  into  flowing  rivers  of  peace. 
Fulfill  in  me  the  promise  that  ^'he  that  dwelleth  in  the 
secret  place  of  the  Most  High  shall  abide  under  the  shadow 
of  the  Almighty"  (Psalm  91  :  i). 

For  Thine  own  Honour,  Amen, 


Devotional  Meditations  123 


TENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  7  :  13-29. 

Title : 

"  The  Narrow  Gate  "  (v.  13). 

Thought  : 

The  Narrow  Gate  (13-14),  with  its  twin  pillars  of  Giv- 
ing and  Praying,  is  the  entrance  into  the  New  Man's 
**  house"  where  the  false  are  not  admitted  (15-23)  and 
the  building  is  founded  on  "the  Rock"  (24-27).  Such 
teaching  made  the  people  marvel  (28-29). 

Truth: 

(14)     ''Few  find  itr 

For  only  after  using  the  silver  key  (Giving)  at  the  por- 
ter's lodge,  does  one  find  the  Golden  Key  (in  Praying)  at 
the  Palace  gate.  And  most  men  are  so  busy  coining  their 
metal  into  dollars,  that  there  is  not  enough  to  spare  to 
make  the  key  which  would  let  them  into  unlimited  re- 
sources. Oh  !  the  pity  of  it,  the  throng  of  beggars  out- 
side hugging  their  bags  of  silver,  while  the  few,  melting 
their  silver  into  a  key,  enter  into  the  storeroom  where  is 
gold  untold  !  Am  I  among  the  few  or  with  the  great 
majority,  who  by  their  own  rejection  are  limiting  the 
Divine  election  ? 

(21)     '*  The  Will  of  My  Father,'' 

This  is  the  password  of  the  King's  Palace.  **  Not  to 
do  Mine  own  will,  but  the  will  of  Him  that  sent  Me  '* 
(John  6  ;  38)  was  the  word  upon  the  lips  of  the  King. 


124  The  Messiah 

"  He  that  doeth  the  will  of  God  abideth  (here)  forever  " 
(i  John  2:17)  is  the  assurance  of  every  child  of  the 
King.  Have  I  the  password  ?  Then  I  may  go  in  and 
out  and  abide  ever  in  the  son's  place  of  privilege. 

(25,  26)     ^^  Rock     .     .     .     sand.'' 

There  is  all  the  difference  between  absolute  reliability 
and  utter  instability,  between  the  man  who  rests  on  "  the 
Rock  of  Ages"  and  he  who  depends  upon  the  shifting 
sand  of  his  own  self-will.  The  one  is  ' '  fixed ' '  (Psalm  57:7) 
while  the  other  "straightway  forgetteth  "  (James  i  :  24) 
and  is  *' unstable  in  all  his  ways  "  (James  1:8). 

Prayer : 

Oh,  Thou  who  art  Thyself  the  Way,  help  me  to  enter  in 
at  the  Narrow  Gate.  Teach  me  to  give.  Teach  me  to 
pray.  Give  me  a  place,  here  and  now,  in  the  house 
where  the  false  cannot  enter.  There  may  I  abide  "  un- 
derstanding what  the  will  of  the  Lord  is"  (Eph.  5  :  17) 
doing  the  will  of  God  from  the  heart  (Eph.  6  :  6).  Thus 
shall  I  be  Thy  <* brother"  indeed  (Mark  3  :  35).  Lord, 
"  I  delight  to  do  Thy  will  "  (Psalm  40  :  8).  "  Oh,  teach 
me  to  do  Thy  will "  (Psalm  143  :  10). 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen. 


Devotional  Meditations  125 


ELEVENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  8. 

Title: 

''IWiir  (vs.  3,  7,  19). 

Thought : 

Jesus  heals  the  leper  with  a  touch  (1-4),  speaks  the 
word  of  power  to  the  palsied  (5-13),  expels  the  fever 
(14-17),  calls  the  undecided  to  follow  Him  (18-22), 
stills  the  tempest  with  a  word  (23-27)  and  commands  the 
demons  to  come  out  (28-34). 

Truth : 

(3)     '' He  touched  him:' 

To  really  reach  men,  I  must  get  into  close  touch  with 
them.  No  matter  how  leprous  a  man  may  be,  he  may  be 
healed  by  the  touch  of  Divine  power  and  purity.  Close 
contact  is  essential  for  any  real  spiritual  helpfulness.  Am 
I  coming  into  saving  touch  with  men  who  need  to  be 
brought  into  contact  with  the  power  of  Christ  ? 

(11)     "  They  shall  come  from  the  East  and  the  West:' 

In  the  coming  kingdom  the  great  wall  of  separation  be- 
tween the  East  and  West  will  be  completely  broken 
down  ;  there  shall  be  no  more  a  foreign  country  or  a  for- 
eigner ;  every  man  shall  be  neighbour  to  every  other — 
American  and  Chinaman,  Russian  and  Japanese.  I  need 
to  study  geography  until  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  for- 
eign country  and  to  study  men  until  no  man  shall  longer 
seem  to  me  as  "a  foreigner." 

(17)     *  *  Himself  took  our  infirmities. ' ' 

He  came   that   I  might  have  life  and  have  abundance 


126  The  Messiah 

(John  io:io).  Hence  whatever  hinders  the  fullest  life, 
physical  as  well  as  intellectual  and  spiritual,  is  to  be  re- 
moved. For  holiness  means  wholeness.  A  full  salvation 
affects  body,  mind  and  spirit  (i  Thess.  5  :  23).  Peace  of 
heart  promotes  health  of  body. 

(24)     "  He  was  asleep.''^ 

Indefatigable  worker  that  He  was,  our  Lord  knew  well 
how  to  rest.  While  all  was  confusion  about  Him  and 
others  were  worried  and  worn.  He  slept  the  dreamless 
sleep  of  a  little  child,  gathering  up  a  reserve  of  strength  to 
meet  the  stress  of  the  storm  a  little  later  on,  and  to  speak 
the  word  of  power  which  brought  "the  great  calm." 
This  is  a  lesson  that  I  need  to  learn  more  and  more  from 
Him  who  alone  can  garrison  heart  and  mind  with  His 
peace. 

(24,    26)     "^  great    storm     .     .     .     a  great  calm.'' 

And  between  the  "storm"  and  the  "calm,"  account- 
ing for  all  the  difference,  a  fervent,  effectual  prayer 
and  the  answering  Word  of  the  Lord.  Why  am  I  so  slow 
to  learn  this  open  secret  of  peace  ? 

"  Peace,  peace,  wonderful  peace, 

Sent  down  from  the  Saviour  above, 
Sweep  over  my  Spirit ;  I  pray  thee  this  day. 
In  fathomless  billows  of  love." 

Prayer ; 

Lord,  help  me  to  come  into  such  helpful  contact  with 
men,  that  because  of  my  life  and  work,  men  may  come 
into  closer  contact  with  one  another,  until  at  last  the  race 
shall  realize  indeed  the  true  Brotherhood  of  Man  under 
the  Fatherhood  of  God.  Teach  me,  too,  to  use  my 
strength  as  not  abusing  it,  and  to  conserve  my  energy  to- 
day, so  as  to  be  ready  to  meet  the  demands  of  to-morrow. 

For  Jesus'  sake,  Amen. 


Devotional  Meditations  127 


TWELFTH   DAY 

MATTHEW  9. 

Title  : 

««  Mercy''  (v.  13). 

Thought  : 

He  forgives  sin  (1-8),  attaches  a  publican  to  Him  (9), 
dines  with  publicans  and  sinners  (10-13),  explains  the 
absence  of  fasting  among  His  followers  (14-17),  raises  the 
ruler's  dead  daughter  (18-26)  restores  the  woman  having 
an  issue  (20-22),  gives  sight  to  the  blind  (27-31),  casts 
out  the  dumb  devil  (32-34),  then  goes  forth  evangelizing 
in  the  villages  (35-38). 

Truth  : 

(2)     '*  Thy  sins  are  forgiveny 

Truly,  no  man  ever  spoke  as  this  man ;  in  all  human 
history  was  there  ever  any  other  who  spake  such  a  word  as 
this  ?  Well  might  He  feel  that  He  must  attach  a  seal  of 
supernatural  power  to  attest  such  an  instrument.  He  goes 
now  to  the  very  root  of  the  matter  and  deals  with  the 
cause  of  weakness  in  sin  that  enfeebles  will  and  paralyzes 
thought  and  saps  physical  stamina.  No  wonder  that  the 
multitudes  were  "  afraid  "  of  such  power  as  this.  Have  I 
heard  this  word  and  felt  this  power  ? 

(5)     "  Which  is  easier?'' 

Every  difficulty  is  equally  easy.  To  omnipotence  the 
hardest  things  are  done  without  effort.  It  is  a  sure  sign  of 
weakness  to  pick  out  the   "easier"  task.     "Is  not  the 


128  The  Messiah 

evidence  of  ease  written  upon  all  the  great  works  of  God  ? 
they  seem  to  say,  not  that  there  has  been  great  effort  here, 
but  there  is  great  power  here.  And  that  is  what  we  are  so 
slow  to  learn  ;  as  though  we  could  do  anything  by  iron 
bars  and  perspiration,  except  to  lose  some  pounds  of  our 
own  weight."  Am  I  working  with  omnipotent  strength? 
(Col.  i:  II). 

(9)     ^^  He  saw  a  man.^* 

Jesus  used  His  eyes.  Even  as  He  passed,  "He  saw." 
And  above  all  else,  *'  He  saw  a  man."  In  this  man,  who 
would  have  appeared  so  much  like  the  rest  of  the  mass, 
He  saw  a  sinner  to  be  saved  and  an  apostle  to  be  sent  forth 
to  save  others.  Why  is  it  that,  while  the  sculptor  can  see 
the  angel  in  the  marble,  I  fail  to  see  in  every  man  I  meet, 
a  sinner  ruined  without  Christ,  but  redeemed  by  Him  at 
countless  cost  ? 

(30)     ''  See  that  no  man  know  it.^^ 

Publicity  often  hinders  usefulness.  There  are  many 
things  that  should  have  no  place  in  a  report.  True  power 
does  not  advertise  itself  It  is  the  very  acme  of  real 
greatness  to  conceal  itself.  Do  I  love  to  be  unknown,  stu- 
diously avoiding  all  display  of  what  I  do  ? 

Prayer  : 

Lord,  who  alone  canst  forgive  sin,  speak  the  word  of 
power  that  shall  remove  all  cause  of  palsy  from  my  life. 
"  Forgive  us  our  trespasses  .  .  .  and  deliver  us 
from  the  Evil  One,  for  Thine  is  the  kingdom  and  the 
power  and  the  glory  forever.  Amen,'* 


Devotional  Meditations  129 


THIRTEENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  10. 

Title : 

''Authority:'     (v.  i). 

Thought : 

He  commissions  the  Twelve  (1-4)  to  go  first  to  the  Jews 
(5-6),  ministering  in  practical  helpfulness  (7-io)»  receiv- 
ing hospitality  with  discrimination  (11-15),  fearing  no 
man,  but  prepared  for  persecution  (16-23),  expecting  no 
better  treatment  than  their  Master  (24-33),  manfully  bear- 
ing the  cross  (34-38),  identifying  themselves  in  all  things 
with  Christ  (40-42). 

Truth; 

(8)  ''Heal  .  .  .  raise  the  dead  .  .  .  cast 
out  demons.     .     .     .     Give:' 

I  am  to  be  ever  giving  out  to  others,  and  hence  I  must 
be  ever  drawing  from  Him  in  whom  are  hid  all  the  treas- 
ures of  wisdom  and  knowledge.  His  grace  is  inexhaust- 
ible and,  though  ever  giving  out,  I  can  never  run  dry  if  I 
only  continually  keep  drawing  upon  the  Source  in  Him. 

(28)     "Fear    Him     .     .     .     fear    noty    therefore:' 

"  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom  " 
(Prov.  1:7)  and  it  is,  likewise,  the  end  of  fear  of  anything 
else.  For  "  perfect  love  casteth  out  fear"  and  "God  is 
love"  (i  John  4:  8). 

(34)     "A  sword:* 


130  The  Messiah 

If  true  of  His  family,  may  it  not  be  so  in  many  an- 
other ?  The  *' Sword"  pierced  Mary's  heart  and  did 
cleave  her  family  in  twain  ;  yet  afterwards  it  became  a 
mighty  magnet  to  reunite  them. 

(42)     *'  A  cup  of  cold  water  only,''^ 

It  is  the  doing  of  little  deeds  in  a  great  way,  that  counts 
with  God.  Am  I  showing  great  thoughtfulness  and  kind- 
liness and  grace  in  doing  little  things  habitually  ? 

Prayer ; 

Lord,  help  me  to  be  depending  all  the  while  upon  Thee 
for  authority  and  power  and  courage  and  patience  and  all 
that  I  need.  Teach  me  to  fear  Thee  alone  and  to  hate 
only  sin.  Enable  me  this  day  to  see  and  to  seize  every 
opportunity  for  doing  little  deeds  of  kindness  with  great 
grace. 

For  Thy  name's  sake,  Amen. 


Devotional  Meditations  131 


FOURTEENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  II. 

Title: 

^'Resf'  (v.  28). 

Thought : 

John  the  Baptist,  sending  to  assure  himself  as  to  the 
Messiahship  of  Jesus,  receives  not  only  evidence  on  that 
point  (1-6),  but  testimony  to  himself  as  well  (7-19) ;  a 
condemnation  of  the  cities  that  rejected  the  evidence  of 
Jesus'  "  signs  "  follows  (10-24)  and  the  invitation  to  Rest 
(25-29)- 

Truth  : 

(25)  ^*  Jesus  answered  and  said  .  .  .  O  Father '^ 
Seeing  His  own  generation  refusing  to  listen  to  either 
the  message  of  John  the  Baptist  or  His  own,  His  heart  is 
heavy-laden  and  He  turns  to  His  unfailing  source  of  com- 
fort in  the  **  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth."  To  Jesus, 
prayer  was  no  monologue,  but  a  dialogue.  He  heard  the 
Father's  voice  within  and  He  "  answered  "  ;  prayer  was 
the  response  of  Jesus  to  the  Father's  voice,  ever  speaking 
within  the  soul,  unheard  by  "  the  wise  and  understand- 
ing," but  unmistakable  to  the  **  meek  and  lowly  in  heart." 
And  the  latter  our  Lord  invites  to  Him  for  this  heart' s- 
ease. 

(28)     «*  Come     .     .     .     learn     .     .     .     rest:^ 
Since  "  this  is  Eternal  Life,  to    know  the  only  true 


132  The  Messiah 

God  "  (John  17  :  3),  the  way  to  Life  is  to  **  learn  "  from 
the  only  One  who  knows.  John  the  Baptist  sent  to  Him 
and  learned  of  a  "  yoke  "  that  would  make  it  easy  to  bear 
the  heaviest  burden.  And  since  He  invites  me  to 
"  Come  "  to  Him  and  learn,  I  will  accept  His  invitation, 
matriculate  in  His  school  and  learn  Life's  lessons  at  His 
feet.  Then  only  can  I  be  of  real  service,  for  as  Carlyle 
says,  **  the  most  modest  little  pond  can  reflect  the  sun,  // 
//  is  absolutely  at  rest  in  itself." 

(29)  ^^  Meek  and  lowly '' 

This  is  the  very  opposite  of  *' wise  and  understanding  " 
(25).  I  must  realize  that  I  do  not  **  know  it  all "  ;  indeed 
I  am  but  a  Httle  child,  not  knowing  anything  as  I  ought. 
But  I  have  a  "  wonderful  Counsellor  "  (Isa.  9  :  6)  for  my 
teacher  and  hence  there  is  hope  for  even  such  a  stupid 
scholar. 

(30)  * '  My  yoke  is  easy. ' ' 

Who  would  have  thought  of  seeking  *<rest"  in  a 
"  yoke  "  ?  Yet  that  is  Jesus'  way.  For  (i)  the  yoke  is 
for  two,  and  I  can  no  longer  bear  my  burden  alone,  if 
yoke-fellow  with  Him  who  says,  *'  Me  and  thee  "  (17  :  27) ; 
(2)  This  yoke  is  *' easy  "  ;  the  Carpenter  who  Himself 
made  yokes,  knows  all  about  them  and  fits  the  yoke  to  the 
neck  perfectly ;  (3)  He  takes  the  heavy  end  and  hence  the 
burden  now  is  "■  light  "  ;  (4)  without  a  yoke,  the  ox 
would  be  of  no  earthly  use;  in  fact,  it  is  *'  the  yoke"  that 
makes  the  burden  <*  light." 

Prayer : 

Lord,  save  me  from  the  doubt  that  comes  through 
losing  sight  of  the  evidence  of  Thy  "  works,"  as  Thou  art 
doing  them  continually  to-day.  I  thank  Thee  for  a  place 
in  Thy  Kingdom ;  help  me  to  fill  it.     Fit  the  yoke  to  my 


Devotional  Meditations 


133 


neck.     Keep  me  from  chafing.     Make  me  meet  to  be  a 
worker  together  (2  Cor.  6 :  i)  with  Thee. 

"  O  lightest  burden,  sweetest  yoke  ! 
It  lifts,  it  bears  my  happy  soul, 
It  giveth  wings  to  this  poor  heart ; 
My  freedom  is  Thy  grand  control. 

"  Upon  God's  will  I  lay  me  down. 
As  child  upon  its  mother's  breast; 
No  silken  couch,  nor  softest  bed. 
Could  ever  give  me  such  deep  rest. 

"  Thy  wonderful  grand  will,  my  God, 
With  triumph  now  I  make  it  mine. 
And  faith  shall  cry  a  joyous  Yes 
To  every  dear  command  of  Thine." 

Amen  and  Amen, 


134  Ihe  Messiah 


FIFTEENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  12 :  1-21. 

Title : 

**  Beelzebub  "  (v.  24). 

Thought : 

Accused  of  Sabbath  breaking  (1-8),  He  proceeds  to 
heal  the  withered  hand  (9-13),  and  the  Pharisees  concoct 
a  charge  against  "  My  servant "  (14-21). 

Truth  : 

(6)     "  One  greater  than  the  temple  is  here.''* 

As  the  potter  is  greater  than  the  vessel  he  turns  out,  the 
watchmaker  greater  than  the  watch,  the  Creator  than  the 
creature,  so  Jesus  is  *'  greater  than  the  Temple "  (6), 
"  greater  than  the  Sabbath  "  (8)  which  He  has  instituted. 
Will  He,  then,  deny  Himself?  Will  He  alter  or  violate 
His  own  Laws  ?  Surely  not ;  nor  will  He  permit  the  letter 
of  the  law  to  kill  the  spirit  of  it.  The  Sabbath  was  never 
meant  to  be  the  bane,  but  the  boon  of  men,  not  a  burden, 
but  a  benefit.  The  provision  intended  to  prevent  pleasing 
one's  self  is  not  to  be  applied  to  perpetuate  pain.  Suffer- 
ing should  be  relieved  where  self-seeking  is  utterly  pro- 
hibited. 

(18)     "  Behold  My  servant.  * ' 

Every  true  servant  of  Christ  shall  be  like  Christ:  a 
picked  man — "  chosen  "  (18)  ;  of  lovable  disposition — "  be- 
loved "  (18)  ;  Spirit-filled—''  my  Spirit  upon  Him  "  (18)  ; 
fearlessly    outspoken — "declare    judgment"    (18);    not 


Devotional  Meditations  135 

contentious  or  sdf-assertive — "  shall  not  strive  nor  cry  ** 
(19) ;  but  unobtrusive — "  neither  shall  any  one  hear  His 
voice  "  (19) ;  very  gentle  and  considerate — *'  a  bruised 
reed  shall  he  not  break  "  (20)  ;  yet,  victorious— ^^  judgment 
unto  victory  "  (20)  ;  an  inspiring  leader — "  in  His  name 
shall  the  Gentiles  hope  "  (21). 

Prayer : 

Lord,  I  am  Thy  servant.  O  make  me  a  man  after  Thine 
own  heart,  answering  to  the  description  given  by  Thee 
through  Isaiah ;  make  me  grow  up  in  all  things  into  Thee 
my  Head. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen* 


136  The  Messiah 


SIXTEENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  12:22-50. 

Title : 

"  Beelzebub  "  (v.  24). 

Thought : 

Jesus  having  healed  a  demoniac  (22)  is  charged  with 
being  in  league  with  the  devil  and  refutes  the  charge 
(23-37),  but  refuses  a  "sign"  (38-45)  ;  He  points  out 
who  His  real  relatives  are  (46-50). 

Truth : 

(29)     *<  First  bind  the  strong  man.** 

This  has  been  done ;  *'  For  Jehovah  hath  ransomed 
Jacob,  and  redeemed  him  from  the  hand  of  him  that  was 
stronger  than  he  "  (Jer.  31  :  11).  The  picture  presented 
in  Isaiah  62,  perfectly  represents  my  present  position  in 
relation  to  the  Adversary  :  He  who  is  "  Mighty  to  save,** 
is  between  me  and  the  foe.  He  has  fought  the  battle  to  a 
finish,  He  has  trodden  the  winepress  alone.  His  raiment 
was  stained  with  blood  in  the  struggle,  His  eye  pitied  and 
His  arm  brought  salvation,  so  He  has  become  my  Saviour ; 
He  redeemed  me  from  the  power  of  the  enemy.  Hence 
the  year  of  His  redeemed  is  co?ne,  and  I  no  longer  fear 
*<  the  strong  man,"  my  Adversary. 

"  Did  we  in  our  own  strength  confide, 
Our  striving  would  be  losing ; 
Were  not  the  right  Man  on  our  side, 
The  Man  of  God's  own  choosing. 
Dost  ask,  Who  that  may  be  ? 
Christ  Jesus,  it  is  He  1 


Devotional  Meditations  137 

Lord  Sabaoth  is  His  name. 

From  age  to  age  the  same ; 
And  He  must  win  the  battle. 

"  And  though  this  world,  with  devils  filled, 
Should  threaten  to  undo  us, 
We  will  not  fear,  for  God  hath  willed 
His  truth  to  triumph  through  us." 

(50)     "  Whosoever  shall  do  the  will.'' 

Closer  than  ties  of  blood  or  friendship  is  the  bond  of 
the  will  of  God  which  binds  together  the  disciples  of  Jesus. 
No  matter  what  difference  of  nationality,  or  language  or 
colour,  all  in  Christ  Jesus  are  "one."  I  am  brother  to 
every  true  Christian,  whether  Hottentot  or  Hawaiian, 
Chilian  or  Chinese.  Only  as  I  take  every  child  of  His  to 
be  my  brother,  can  I  have  God  for  my  Father.  And  every 
one  who  does  His  will  is  His  true  child.  This  is  the  one 
test  of  belonging  to  the  "one  family"  (Eph.  3:  15), 
doifig  Father's  will.  To  do  His  will,  I  must  know  it. 
And  to  know  His  will,  I  must  study  His  Word.  And  "  if 
any  man  willeth  to  do  His  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  teach- 
ing "  (John  7:  17). 

Prayer : 

Oh,  Saviour,  who,  for  us  sinners  and  our  redemption, 
hast  poured  out  Thine  own  soul  unto  death  and,  having 
won  the  victory  once  for  all,  hast  gone  up  on  high  to  re- 
ceive gifts  for  men,  even  for  the  rebellious,  grant  that  I 
may  not  fail  of  obtaining  the  fruits  of  Thy  redemption. 
Forbid  that  I  should  be  still  striving  to  accomplish  that 
which  Thou  hast  "  finished."  Grant  me  grace  to  truly 
reckon  myself  "  dead  unto  sin,  but  alive  unto  God  in 
Christ  Jesus  "  (Romans  6  :  11). 

Amen. 


138  The  Messiah 


SEVENTEENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  13 :  1-23. 

Title  : 

*^  Mysteries  "  (v.  11). 

Thought  % 

Jesus  describes  the  Kingdom  of  heaven  in  a  series  of 
parables,  the  first  of  which  is  the  Sower  (1-23). 

Truth : 

(11)  "  Unto  you  it  is  given  to  know  the  mysteries  of 
the  Kingdom.^* 

What  responsibility  attaches  to  the  privilege  of  know- 
ing !  "This  is  life  eternal,  to  know  Thee,  the  only  true 
God  and  Jesus  Christ "  (John  17  :  3).  **The  God  of  our 
fathers  hath  appointed  thee  to  know  His  will,  and  to  see 
the  Righteous  One,  and  to  hear  a  voice  from  His  mouth. 
For  thou  shalt  be  a  witness"  (Acts  22:  14,  15).  This 
was  one  of  the  messages  that  revolutionized  Paul's  life. 
But  only  unto  those  who  are  ready  to  respond,  is  it  given 
"  to  know."  To  all  others,  the  transforming  truths  of  the 
Kingdom  of  heaven  remain  "mysteries"  forever.  Only 
those  who  are  willing  to  become  prophets  are  allowed  to 
be  seers.  Would  I  not  be  permitted  "  to  know  "  more,  if 
willing  to  witness  more  ? 

"  Light  obeyed  increaseth  light, 
Light  rejected  bringeth  night ; 
Who  will  give  thee  power  to  choose, 
If  the  love  of  Truth  thou  lose  ?  »' 


Devotional  Meditations  139 

(12)  *^  Whosoever  hath  not^  from  him  shall  be  taken 
away  even  that  which  he  hath^ 

He  who  has  ears  has  the  key  to  music  and  all  the  world 
which  ears  alone  can  unlock.  He  who  has  eyes  has  also 
visions  of  beauty,  open  to  him  but  fast  closed  to  the  blind 
man.  And  only  he  who  has  purity  can  have  visions  of 
God,  either  in  His  Word  or  His  works.  He  who  has 
Christ  for  his  teacher,  has  the  key  to  "all  mysteries." 
And  what  are  mysteries  to  him  who  has  only  sight,  be- 
come revelations  to  him  who  has  vision. 

(23)     ^' Heareth  the  Word  and  under sta7ideth  it y 

God  only  can  give  me  understanding,  but  I  alone  can 
use  it.  "  The  Son  of  God  is  come,  and  hath  given  us  an 
understanding  "  (i  John  5  :  20).  "  Then  opened  He 
their  mind,  that  they  might  understand  the  Scriptures" 
(Luke  24 :  45).  Am  I  making  the  most  of  this  God- 
given  faculty,  or  am  I  laying  myself  open  to  the  rebuke, 
"Are  ye,  also  without  understanding?"  (Matt.  15:  16). 

Prayer : 

"Lord,  open  Thou  mine  eyes."  Initiate  me  into  the 
mysteries  of  Thy  Kingdom.  Make  me  a  seer,  in  order 
that  I  may  become  more  truly  a  prophet.  Let  me  not  lose 
the  eyes  of  my  understanding  by  failing  to  use  them. 
Anoint  mine  eyes  with  eye-salve,  that  I  may  see. 

For  Thine  own  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


140  The  Messiah 


EIGHTEENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  13 :  24-58. 

Title : 

'*  Mysteries  "  (v.  11). 

Thought : 

Jesus  likens  the  Kingdom  to  the  seed  (24-30),  mustard 
seed  (vs.  31,  32),  leaven  {2>Z))  explains  the  tares  (34-43), 
treasure  (44),  the  merchant  (45,  46),  the  net  (47-53)1 
and  the  people  marvel  at  His  teaching  (54-58). 

Truth ; 

(29)     **  Nay ;  lest    .     .     .    ye  root  up  the  wheat.^' 

Motives  are  too  subtle  for  man  to  deal  with.  "  Man 
looketh  upon  the  outward  appearance,  but  the  Lord 
looketh  upon  the  heart"  (i  Sam.  16:  7).  If  I  attempt 
to  judge,  I  may  make  terrible  mistakes.  Some  whom  I 
consider  all  right,  may  be  quite  wrong,  while  others  of 
whom  I  disapprove  may  be  most  pleasing  in  God's  sight. 
In  trying  to  get  rid  of  Judas  Iscariot,  I  may  shut  out  Judas 
not  Iscariot.  Let  me  not  assume  God's  function.  He  is 
Judge.  And  to  his  own  master  every  man  standeth  or 
falleth. 

(36)     "  Explain  unto  us  the  parable. ' ' 

Blessed  is  he,  whoever  he  be,  that  can  have  Jesus  to 
make  the  obscure  things  plain.  As  "the  precious  things 
of  the  everlasting  hills"  (Deut.  33:  15)  are  not  lying 
around  on  the  surface,  so,  likewise,  "  the  precious  things 
of  heaven"   must  be  searched  for  as  for  hid  treasure. 


Devotional  Meditations  141 

And  these  can  be  unlocked  only  by  Him  who  holds  the 
key  to  all  things — in  whom  are  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom 
and  knowledge  hidden"  (Col.  2:3).  And  He  can  un- 
ravel every  riddle. 

(38)     "  The  field  is  the  world. ' ' 

Oh,  the  breadth  ''of  the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth 
knowledge  "  (Eph.  3  :  19).  "As  far  as  the  East  is  from 
the  West"  (Psalm  103  :  12) — if  any  man  can  grasp  such 
a  vast  measuring-rod — **  so  "  broad  is  the  field  that  awaits 
the  sowing  of  the  good  seed  of  the  Kingdom. 

«  For  the  love  of  God  is  broader 
Than  the  measure  of  man's  mind." 

As  John  Wesley  said,  **the  world  is  my  parish."  It 
takes  "  the  world  "  to  make  a  Wesley.  It  is  impossible  to 
make  a  large  life  in  a  little  mould.  How  large  is  "  the 
world  "  in  which  I  live  and  move,  about  which  I  know 
and  for  which  I  care  ?  Given  that,  and  the  rest  of  the 
equation  can  soon  be  settled.  If  I  am  content  to  shut  my- 
self up,  in  my  sympathies,  to  a  narrow  little  world,  I 
never  can  hope  to  be  more  than  a  narrow  little  man. 

"  Build  thee  more  stately  mansions,  O  my  soul, 
As  the  swift  seasons  roll 
Leave  thy  low-vaulted  past. 
Let  each  new  temple  nobler  than  the  last 
Shut  thee  from  heaven  with  a  dome  more  vast, 
Till  thou  at  length  art  free, 
Leaving  thine  out-grown  shell  by  life's  unresting  sea." 

Prayer : 

O  Lord,  explain  to  me  the  parable.  Take  me  in,  away 
from  the  multitude,  out  of  the  crowd,  aside  from  the  noise 
of  the  world  without.  Take  me  in  where  it  is  still  enough 
to  hear  the  <'  still,  small  voice  "  (i  Kings  19  :  12).     Then 


142  The  Messiah 

out  of  that  *'  secret  place  "  (Psalm  91  :  i),  teach  me  to  look 
out  through  the  windows  of  Thine  own  big  heart  of  love 
and  see  "  the  world."  O  Son  of  God,  who  art  too  great 
to  make  any  such  artificial  distinction  as  '<  Foreign  Mis- 
sions," and  **Home  Missions,"  teach  me,  like  Thee,  to 
"  so  love  the  world  "  as  to  give  myself,  all  that  I  am  and 
have,  for  its  redemption.  Widen  the  sympathies  of  my 
soul.  Make  me  broader.  It  is  close  and  narrow  where  I 
have  been  living.  Lord,  enlarge  me  to  love  the  whole 
world. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


Devotional  Meditations  143 


NINETEENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  14:  1-12. 

Title: 

^^  Five  thousand^ ^  (v.  21). 

Thought : 
John  is  beheaded  (1-12). 

Truth : 

(2)     **  This  is  John     .     .     .     risen:' 

Superstition  will  move  some  men  whom  the  Truth  of 
God  does  not  touch,  for  the  reason  that  tares  will  grow 
where  wheat  can  take  no  root.  Herod's  guilty  conscience 
made  him  a  coward.  Before  this  panic  fear,  his  religion 
went  by  the  board,  forthwith.  For,  although  he  was  a 
Sadducee,  he  thought  John  had  risen  from  the  dead.  So 
much  for  theories  of  religion  divorced  from  a  religious 
life  !     May  my  religion  be  more  really  a  part  of  me  1 

(4)  *'John  said  unto  Herod^  It  is  not  lawful  for  thee 
to  have  her^ 

Which  of  these  twain  is  really  king,  the  man  in  regal 
robes  but  of  craven  heart  or  the  other,  clothed  in  camel's 
hair  and  a  leathern  girdle  (Mark  i  :  6)  but  with  a  royal 
soul?  Is  it  the  one  who  "  feared  the  multitude"  (5),  or 
he  to  whom  the  multitudes  flocked  (Matt.  3:5),  and  who 
feared  the  face  of  none  but  God  ?  Under  the  rough  robe 
of  the  Baptist  beat  the  heart  of  truest  nobility.  Like  him, 
if  like  unto  his  Master  and  mine,  I  too  will  fearlessly  speak 


144  The  Messiah 

the  Truth,  without  respect  of  persons,  alike  to  high  and 
low. 

(12)     *'  They  went  and  told  Jesus, ^^ 

They  *'  gathered  themselves  together  unto  Jesus  and  told 
Him  all  things,  whatsoever  they  had  done  and  whatsoever 
they  had  taught"  (Mark  6  :  30).  Jesus  is  the  mightiest 
of  magnets,  the  centre  of  attraction  for  all  His  followers. 
He  is  the  touch-stone  whereby  to  test  all  my  deeds  and 
words.  Who  can  possibly  go  far  wrong  who  follows  this 
rule,  of  telling  Jesus  **  all  things  "  ? 

Prayer : 

Lord,  be  Thou  my  confidant,  my  bosom  friend.  Help 
me  to  open  my  heart  to  Thee,  to  tell  Thee  *'  all  things  " — 
all  that  I  have  been  doing,  all  that  I  have  been  saying,  all 
that  I  have  been  thinking  and  desiring.  Then  teach  me  to 
whom  to  speak  and  what  to  say  and  give  me  the  courage  to 
speak  fearlessly  and  give  me,  also,  the  grace  to  speak  the 
Truth  in  love. 

For  the  honour  of  Thy  Great  Name,  Amen, 


Devotional  Meditations  145 


TWENTIETH  DAY 

MATTHEW  14:  13-36. 

Title : 

**  Five  thousand  ^^  (v.  21). 

Thought : 

Jesus  withdraws  to  the  desert  where  He  feeds  the  multi- 
tude (13-21),  and  after  a  season  of  solitary  prayer,  walks 
on  the  water  to  the  tempest-tossed  disciples  (22-33)  and  on 
reaching  Gennesaret  heals  many  (34-36). 

Truth: 

(14)  "  He  came  .  .  .  saw  .  .  .  had  com- 
passion    .     .     .     healed  their  sick.  ^' 

To  go  where  the  people  are,  to  get  to  know  their  need, 
to  have  a  fellow  feeling  for  them  and  then  to  give  practical 
effect  to  this  good-will,  this  is  Christ's  way  and  the  only 
right  way  for  me.  This  is  "  missions  "  simplified — real, 
applied  Christianity,  brought  down  out  of  the  clouds  to 
move  among  men.  And  such  religion  cannot  but  move 
men. 

(16)     *  *  Give  ye  them  to  eat. ' ' 

Here  is  "the  pattern  shown  us  in  the  mount" — the 
Master's  own  method  of  feeding  the  multitude,  of  evangel- 
izing the  world.  Here  is  the  philosophy  of  missions 
summed  up  in  concrete  form  : 

The  picture^  presented  in  three  touches  of  the  great 
Spirit   Artist's   brush:     (i)    ''A  desert  place,"  (2)  "a 


146  The  Messiah 

great  multitude,"  "as  sheep  not  having  a  shepherd,"  (3) 

**  the  day  far  spent." 

The  problem t  **  Whence  are  we  to  buy  bread  that  these 

may  eat  ?  " 

Three  typical  solutions  are  suggested  : 

(i)     Judas  No-faith  says,  "  Send  them  away." 

(2)  PhiHp  Little-faith,  "  two  hundred  penny  worth  is 
not  enough." 

(3)  Andrew  Faith- and -Works,  **  There  is  a  lad  here 
who  has  five  barley  loaves  and  two  small  fishes." 

The  Master's  Method: 

(i)  Prayer  (inspiration) — "  He  went  up  into  a  moun- 
tain." 

(2)  Study  (education) — <*He  lifted  up  His  eyes  and 
looked  (not  a  glance  but  a  long,  lingering  look)  and  His 
heart  was  touched  with  a  feeling  of  compassion." 

(3)  Action  (practical  application) — {a)  Distribution 
of  responsibility,  "  He  made  them  sit  down  in  ranks  " 
(Mark  6  139)  .  .  .  *' by  hundreds  and  fifties"  (dis- 
tributing responsibility  to  each  of  the  twelve  members  of 
the  church). 

(J))  Consecration  of  self  and  substance — **  Give  ye 
them  to  eat."     "  Bring  them  hither  to  Me." 

(r)  Consequent  blessing — "  Gather  up  the  fragments  " 
— "twelve  baskets  full."  {d)  Consummation  of  the  en- 
terprise, "All  filled."  (<?)  Coronation  of  the  Christ — 
"Make  Him  King." 

(23)     "  He  went  up  into  a  mountain  apart  to  pray y 

Herein  lay  the  secret  of  His  power,  and  here  must  I  find 
mine.  It  is  only  as  I  am  in  touch  with  God,  that  my  life 
can  be  instinct  with  power  for  service.  Why  do  I  not  get 
"apart"  more?  The  hour  of  greatest  popularity  is  the 
hour  of  greatest  peril.     Success  necessitates  supplication. 


Devotional  Meditations  147 

<Vhen  the  crowd  cries  **  Long  live  the  King/*  I  should  cry 
to  the  King  to  save  me.  Have  I  such  a  *'  mountain  "  re- 
treat ? 

"  Why,  therefore,  should  we  do  ourselves  this  wrong, 
Or  others,  that  we  are  not  always  strong. 
That  we  are  ever  overborn  with  care. 

That  we  should  ever  weak  or  heartless  be, 
Anxious  or  troubled,  when  with  us  is  prayer. 

And  joy  and  strength  and  courage  are  with  Thee  ?  " 

Prayer  : 

Lord,  help  me  to  study,  to  pray,  to  obey,  to  act  as 
though  I  really  believed  that  Thou  dost  mean  what  Thou 
dost  say.  Help  me  to  follow  the  pattern  shown  upon  the 
mount,  and  to  set  about  doing  it — now.  Grant  me  to  look 
upon  the  multitudes  through  Thine  eyes,  to  feel  something 
of  Thine  own  compassion  for  the  perishing,  to  touch  men 
with  something  of  Thine  own  divine  power,  to  heal  and 
help  them  back  to  God. 

For  Thine  own  honour  and  glory,  Amen, 


148  The  Messiah 


TWENTY-FIRST  DAY 

MATTHEW  15. 

Title ; 
''The  Crumbs''  (v.  27). 

Thought  : 

Taken  to  task  by  the  Pharisees  and  Scribes  for  neglect 
of  tradition,  Jesus  denounces  their  hypocrisy  and  teaches 
the  people  what  defilement  really  is  (1-20);  then,  with- 
drawing to  the  parts  of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  He  heals  the 
Canaanitish  woman's  daughter  (21-28),  and,  returning  to 
Galilee,  heals  the  multitude  and  feeds  the  four  thousand. 

Truth  : 

(13)  "  Every  plant  which  My  heavenly  Father  hath 
not  planted  J  shall  be  rooted  up'' 

"The  branch  of  His  planting".  (Is.  60  :  21),  "trees  of 
righteousness,  the  planting  of  Jehovah"  (Is.  61  :  3),  can- 
not but  flourish.  If  only  my  work  is  rooted  in  the  will 
of  God, — if  it  is  that  which  Christ  can  claim  as  a  "  branch 
in  Me"  (John  15  :  2) — then  there  can  be  no  question  at 
all  as  to  its  permanency  or  its  fruitfulness.  "God's  hus- 
bandry" (i  Cor.  3  :  9)  is  sure  to  grow  and  increase.  And 
everything  else  must  go.  Only  "  he  that  doeth  the  will 
of  God  abideth  forever  "  (i  John  2  :  17). 

(19)     "  Out  of  the  heart  come  forth  evil  thoughts. ' ' 

The  heart   is   the  source  of  all  sin.     For  you  sow  a 


Devotional  Meditations  149 

thought  and  you  reap  an  act;  you  sow  an  act  and  you 
reap  a  habit  •  you  sow  a  habit  and  you  reap  a  character ; 
you  sow  a  character  and  you  reap  a  destiny.  "  As  a  man 
thinketh  in  his  heart,  so  is  he  "  (Prov.  23  :  7). 

(23)  ^^  He  answered  her  not  a  word^^  .  .  . 
(cf.  V.  26) — ^*  He  answered.'' 

The  difference  between  the  blank  silence  of  refusal  and 
the  carte  blanche  of  an  unreserved  answer  to  the  self-same 
prayer,  is  accounted  for  entirely  by  the  difference  of  atti- 
tude on  the  part  of  the  asker.  Jesus  insists  upon  sincerity. 
The  Gentile  who  comes  to  lay  claim  on  Him  as  ''  Son  of 
David,"  meets  no  response,  but  coming  to  Him  as 
*'Lord,"  has  every  need  supplied.  And  how  can  I  ex- 
pect Him  to  disclose  the  resources  of  the  Son  of  God,  if  I 
regard  Him  only  as  the  Son  of  Man  ? 

(28)     "  O  woman,  great  is  thy  faith. ^* 

The  faith  that  is  founded  on  His  word  of  promise  re- 
ceives a  carte  blanche  on  which  to  draw,  up  to  any  limit. 
Delay  but  serves  to  strengthen  such  faith.  And  it  grows 
not  only  in  the  sheltered  garden  of  Israel,  or  in  a  Christian 
community,  but  even  in  the  heath  of  a  "  heathen  "  heart. 
For  it  is  a  **  plant  which  my  heavenly  Father  hath  planted  " 
(v.  13)  and  hence  it  cannot  be  uprooted. 

(32)     *  *  /  would  not  send  them  away  fasting. ' ' 

The  compassion  of  Christ  is  ever  practical.  It  has  to  do 
with  "loaves  and  fishes'*  for  the  empty  stomach,  quite  as 
much  as  with  rest  for  the  heavy-laden  heart.  He  is  no 
mystic  dreamer,  but  a  matter  of  fact  man  of  affairs.  He 
can  serve  in  the  commissariat,  quite  as  well  as  in  the 
Privy  Council.  So,  God  helping  me,  I  would  be  ob- 
servant, sympathetic,  resourceful,  practical,  effective,  not 
only  seeing  what  needs  to  be  done,  but  likewise  bringing 
it  to  pass. 


150  The  Messiah 

Prayer : 

O  Thou,  who  art  the  Author  and  Finisher  of  faith,  help 
Thou  mine  unbelief.  Make  faith  to  flourish  as  a  seed 
planted  and  tended  by  Thine  own  hand.  Speak  Thou  the 
word  of  power  which  shall  turn  the  blossom  into  luscious 
fruit.  Weed  out  every  evil  thought  and  desire.  Regard- 
ing not  any  iniquity  in  my  heart,  may  I  be  enabled  to  call 
upon  Thee,  so  that  Thou  wilt  hear  and  answer  me,  yea, 
more,  so  that  it  may  be  possible  for  Thee  to  commend  my 
faith.     For  then  only  can  I  truly  serve  men  and  glorify  God. 

For  Christ's  sake,  Amen. 


Devotional  Meditations  151 


TWENTY-SECOND  DAY 

MATTHEW  16. 

Title  : 

''The  Keys''  (v.  19). 

Thought : 

After  refusing  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  a  sign  (i-4)> 
Jesus  warns  the  disciples  against  "  the  leaven  "  (5-12),  re- 
ceives the  Great  Confession  from  Peter  (13-20),  and,  for 
the  first  time,  forecasts  the  Cross  (21-28). 

Truth: 

(3)     **  The  signs  of  the  times:' 

'*  We  are  in  the  midst  of  a  great  subsidence  and  much 
farther  on  than  most  men  at  all  realize.  There  has  been  a 
great  letting  down  of  faith  in  the  fundamentals  of  Chris- 
tianity," said  one  of  the  greatest  thinkers  of  the  day,  in 
conversation  with  the  writer,  recently.  Is  this  not  what 
was  foretold  by  the  Spirit  through  Paul  (2  Tim.  3  :  i), 
that  *'in  the  last  days  grievous  times  shall  come  "  ?  My 
business  is  to  be  like  the  men  of  Issachar,  who  had  the 
advantage  of  their  brethren  in  that  they  "  had  understand- 
ing of  the  times,  to  know  what  Israel  ought  to  do" 
(i  Chron.  12  :  32). 

(18)     "  Upon  this  Rock  will  I  build  My  Church^ 

Even  though,  like  Peter,  I  be  as  shifting  sand,  yet  if  I 
am  wholly  in  God's  hand,  surely  He  will  make  me  to 
stand  like  a  Rock.     The  man  who  is  unstable  as  water 


152  The  Messiah 

(Gen.  49  :  4)  shall  become  a  stalwart,  when  strengthened 
by  Jehovah.  He  who  cowers  before  a  maid-servant's  taunt 
and  denies  the  Lord  who  bought  him,  becomes  a  **  pillar 
in  the  temple  of  God  "  (Rev.  3  :  12).  The  marvel  is  that 
the  Lord  should  build  on  so  frail  a  foundation  as  the  con- 
fessions of  creatures  of  clay.  And  yet  that  is  like  Him 
who  ''placed  the  sand  for  a  bound  of  the  sea  by  a  per- 
petual decree  "  (Jer.  5  :  22).  He  can  take  the  shifting 
sand  of  a  stumbling  Simon  and  convert  his  fickleness  into 
the  stability  of  the  martyr  Peter.  And  if  He  did  that  for 
Peter,  He  will  do  no  less  for  me,  if  I  but  let  Him  do  so. 
Though  ever  so  weak,  I  may  be  made  mighty  by  the  hands 
of  the  mighty  God  of  Jacob  (Gen.  49  :  24)  and  of  Peter. 
For 

In  His  pierced  hand, 

E'en  a  rope  of  sand, 

Holds  the  restless  waves 

That  lash  the  shores 

Of  every  land. 

(21)  "  From  that  time  began  Jesus  to  show  that  He 
must  suffer y 

In  every  life  there  should  come  times  when  the  clearer 
view  is  obtained,  of  the  end  and  outcome.  The  outlines 
of  the  cross  become  clearer  than  before.  Signs  are  seen 
of  the  process  of  purification  that  is  going  on  apace.  How 
practically  is  that  to  appear  in  my  own  case  ?  Is  it  not  by 
greater  meekness  and  gentleness,  even  tenderness  and  com- 
passion and  consideration  for  others,  such  as  Jesus  showed, 
that  I  can  best  give  proof  that  I  have  truly  taken  up  my 
cross  to  follow  Him  up  to  Calvary  and  beyond  ?  I  need 
a  new  point  of  departure.  My  friends  require  better  proof 
that  I  am  partaker  with  Him  in  His  sufferings.  Shall  it 
not  be  from  this  time  that  this  shall  begin  anew  ? 


Devotional  Meditations 


»53 


Prayer ; 

Lord,  whatever  of  instability  there  may  be  about  me, 
may  there  be  none  within  me.  Though  I  am  as  dust,  Thou 
canst  stablish  me,  so  that  I  shall  stand  like  a  rock.  Make 
me  such  a  man  as  Thou  canst  depend  upon.  Teach  me 
to  share  in  Thy  sufferings,  taking  up  my  cross  daily  and 
following  Thee. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


154  The  Messiah 


TWENTY-THIRD  DAY 

MATTHEW   17:  1-13. 

Title : 

"  Transfigured'^  (v.  2). 

Thought : 

Transfigured  (1-8),  Jesus  identifies  John  the  Baptist  as 
the  second  Elijah  (9-13),  reverses  the  disciples'  defeat  in 
healing  the  epileptic  boy  (14-18),  explains  the  cause  of 
their  failure  (19-21),  predicts,  for  the  third  time.  His 
death  and  resurrection  (22-23),  ^"^  provides  for  payment 
of  the  tax  (24-27). 

Truth  : 

(1-3)  ^^  Peter  .  .  .  James  .  .  .  John  .  .  . 
Moses     .     .     .     Elijah     .     .    .    Jesus.'* 

Did  ever  such  another  company  meet  on  earth?  "  The 
Law ' '  is  represented  both  by  Moses,  the  exponent  of  the 
Old  School,  and  by  James,  the  exponent  of  the  New.  *'  The 
Prophets  "  are  represented  not  only  by  Elijah,  the  prophet 
of  Mt.  Carmel,  but  also  by  John,  the  Seer  of  Patmos. 
And,  Peter  is  there,  voicing  **  the  psalms  "  of  common  life, 
both  the  low  notes  and  the  high,  while  above  and  beyond 
them  all  is  Jesus,  the  Beloved  Son  of  the  Father. 

"  O  blest  communion,  fellowship  divine, 
We  feebly  struggle,  they  in  glory  shine  ; 
Yet  all  are  one  in  Thee,  for  all  are  Thine. 
Alleluia  !  " 


Devotional  Meditations  155 

(16)     "  They  could  not  cure  him.*' 

How  often  the  power  of  Christ  is  frustrated  by  the  pow- 
erlessness  of  the  Christian.  Power  is  possible  only  where 
the  circuit  is  unbroken.  Where  the  connection  with 
Omnipotence  is  complete  "  nothing  shall  be  impossible 
unto  you"  (Matt.  17  :  20).  In  this  case,  failure  was  due 
to  separation  from  the  Head  and  lack  of  unity  among  the 
members.  Every  failure  of  mine  is,  in  fact,  a  denial  of 
my  Lord.  Why  did  I  fail  ?  Because  of  my  *'  little  faith  " 
— which  is  the  Master's  kindly  considerate  way  of  de- 
scribing my  *' unbelief.'*  But  why  have  I  so  little 
love?  For,  if  I  loved  the  Lord  as  I  should,  I  would 
know  His  power  better  and  trust  Him  more  implicitly. 
The  reason  why  the  answer  to  many  a  prayer  of  mine  is 
not  given,  is  simply  because  the  prayer  was  never  given, 
to  begin  with.  The  mountain  is  not  removed,  simply  be- 
cause I  have  been  kneeling  at  the  foot  of  the  wrong  moun- 
tain. 

(27)     "  For  me  and  Thee. ' ' 

What  a  partnership, — Christ  and  Co.  !  To  think  of 
Him  as  *'  the  silent  partner  "  in  "  the  King's  business  " — 
furnishing  all  of  the  capital,  "  the  wonderful  Counsellor  " 
(Is.  9  : 6),  drawing  upon  infinite  Wisdom,  sure  to  succeed 
beyond  any  possibility  of  failure.  But  if  we  (He  and  I) 
are  to  be  *' workers  together  "  (2  Cor.  6  :  i),  I  must  enter 
also  into  the  fellowship  of  His  sufferings  (Phil.  3  :  10). 
To  work  with  Him,  I  must  learn  to  work  like  Him.  He 
makes  no  misfit,  but  selects  partners  with  due  regard  to 
fitness  for  the  part  to  be  performed.  Where  fish  are  to  be 
caught.  He  sends  the  fisherman,  not  the  publican.  And 
where  Matthew  might  have  failed,  Peter  makes  a  great 
name. 

But  while  my  partner  supplies  the  resources,  He  expects 


156  The  Messiah 

me  to  develop  them.  As  with  Peter,  so  with  me,  this  in- 
volves: (a)  reflectiouy  "What  thinkest  Thou?"  {U) 
obedience i  "Go";  {c)  skill,  "cast  a  hook";  {d)  de- 
spatch, "  take  up  the  fish  that  first  cometh  up,"  (<?)  careful 
attention,  "  When  thou  hast  opened  his  mouth,  thou  shalt 
find  a  shekel  "  ;  (/)  thoroughness,  "  that  take  and  give." 
Am  I  bringing  to  "the  King's  business "  the  qualities  re- 
quired ? 

Prayer : 

O  Lord,  that  I  may  know  Thee  and  the  power  of  Thy 
resurrection  and  the  fellowship  of  Thy  sufferings,  being 
made  conformable  unto  Thy  death.  Lead  me  to  the 
mountain  which  Thou  dost  mean  to  remove.  Teach  me 
to  do  Thy  will.  O  God,  Thou  are  faithful  who  hast 
called  me  into  the  partnership  of  Thy  Son,  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord  (i  Cor.  1:9).  Make  me  a  true  partner  in  Thy 
business.  Qualify  me  for  it.  Help  me  to  be  always  about 
my  Father's  business. 

For  Thy  dear  Name's  sake,  Amen. 


Devotional  Meditations  157 


TWENTY-FOURTH  DAY 

MATTHEW   18. 
Title  : 

''Little  Child''  (vs.  2,  4). 

Thought : 

Having  set  forth  a  child  as  best  illustrating  the  condi- 
tion of  admission  to  the  Kingdom  (1-14),  Jesus  insists  upon 
agreement  among  the  children  of  the  Kingdom  (15-20), 
and  emphasizes  the  importance  of  forgiveness,  by  the  par- 
able of  the  king's  servants  (21-35). 

Truth  : 

(4)  "  Whosoever  shall  humble  himself  ,  .  .  ts 
the  greatest." 

True  humility  consists  not  so  much  in  thinking  meanly 
of  one's  self,  as  in  not  thinking  of  one's  self  at  all.  A  lit- 
tle child  is  our  Lord's  ideal  of  the  new  man  of  the  new 
kingdom.  For  who  is  so  free  from  self-consciousness  as  a 
little  child  ?    And  this  is  what  He  means  me  to  be. 

(15)     "  Sin  against  thee. ' ' 

The  law  of  Christ  works  both  ways.  It  not  only  covers 
the  case  when  I  have  done  a  wrong  to  my  brother  (Matt. 
5  :  23),  but,  likewise  in  this  case,  when  my  brother  has 
done  a  wrong  to  me.  In  either  case,  prayer  is  hindered 
until  I  do  my  part  towards  healing  the  breach.  The  one 
and  only  petition  in  the  model  prayer  that  calls  for  a  foot- 
note is,  "Forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as  we  forgive" 
(Matt.  6  :  15). 


158  The  Messiah 

(20)  **  Where  two  or  three  are  .  .  .  there  am  I.'' ^ 
*'  Jesus  is  only  satisfied  when  the  doors  are  shut  to  the 
world  and  in  a  quiet  place  His  friends  meet  to  keep  His 
commandments,  whether  it  be  in  the  shadow  of  a  cathe- 
dral, or  in  some  Puritan  meeting-house,  where  the  ele- 
ments of  the  Sacrament  are  passed  from  hand  to  hand,  or 
on  the  mountainside  where  Scotch  covenanters  keep  the 
feast,  or  in  the  dreary  catacombs,  where  early  Christians 
showed  forth  the  Death  that  they  may  to-morrow  share,  it 
is  the  same  to  Him  who  is  above  all  rites,  who  lives  for 
Love." 

Prayer : 

O  Thou  who  didst  Thyself  become  a  little  child,  and 
who  didst  love  to  take  the  little  ones  in  Thine  arms,  make 
me  truly  childlike.  Develop  in  me  every  grace  of  child- 
hood, faith  and  hope  and  love  (i  Cor.  13  :  13),  with  true 
humility;  keep  me  from  self-consciousness.  Make  me 
really  unselfish. 

For  Thine  own  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


Devotional  Meditations  159 

TWENTY-FIFTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  19. 
Title : 

''  Eternal  Life''  (v.  16). 

Thought ; 

Jesus  asserts  the  sacredness  of  marriage  (1-12),  blesses 
the  Uttle  children  (13-15),  deals  with  the  young  Ruler 
(16-22)  and  gives  the  hundredfold  promise  (23-30). 

Truth : 

(9)  '*  Whosoever  shall  put  away  his  wife  .  .  . 
committeth  adultery'' 

How  much  of  the  divorce  law  of  our  day  would  shrivel 
before  the  white-heat  of  the  Righteousness  of  Christ.  If 
the  Law  of  the  Christ  were  the  laws  of  the  land,  the 
Augean  stables  of  "modern  society"  would  soon  be 
cleaned  out.  And  this  law  for  society  is  the  natural 
sequence  to  the  law  for  the  individual  (5  :  28).  Purity  in 
the  heart  makes  purity  in  the  home  and  purity  through- 
out the  land.  Make  the  fountain  clean  and  the  streams 
will  be  the  same.  But  dredging  the  river-bed  will  not 
avail,  if  there  is  corruption  at  the  source. 

(12)     "  Eunuchs  for  the  Kingdom  of  heaven's  sake, ' ' 

Occasions  may  arise  when  those  that  are  married  should 
be  as  though  they  were  unmarried  (i  Cor.  7  :  29).  Marital 
rights  should  be  subordinated  to  the  demands  of  the  King- 
dom. To  Uriah,  war  was  such  an  occasion  (2  Sam.  11 : 
9-13).     Paul  in  his  nomad  life  as  a  missionary,  deemed  it 


i6o  The  Messiah 

better  not  to  marry  (i  Cor.  7  :  26,  40).  Whatever  will 
count  most  for  the  Kingdom,  it  is  for  me  "to  seek  "  at 
any  cost  (Matt.  6  :  33). 

(14)  "  Suffer  the  little  children  .  ,  ,  to  come 
unto  Mey 

Christ  cannot  but  attract  the  children.  Since  **  heaven 
lies  all  about  us  in  our  infancy,"  the  Lord  from  heaven 
naturally  draws  the  little  ones  to  Himself.  And  every 
Christlike  man  should  do  the  same.  If  children  are  not 
attracted  to  me,  I  may  well  inquire  into  the  cause  of  my 
unattractiveness.  For  if  I  do  not  attract  them  to  myself, 
I  may  actually  be  keeping  them  away  from  Christ,  how- 
ever unwittingly. 

(20)  ''What  lack  I  yet?'' 

My  chief  lack  is  the  lack  of  a  sense  of  my  lack.  And 
when  that  lack  is  felt,  I  come  to  realize  that  all  I  lack  is 
love,  but,  that  is  all,  for  lacking  that,  I  lack  all,  since 
"the  greatest  ...  is  love"  (i  Cor.  13:  13). 
"What  lack  I  yet?" 

(21)  *' If  thou  wouldest  he  perfect ^  gOy  sell  ,  .  . 
give  .  .  .  come  .  .  .  follow  ,  .  .  and  thou 
shall  have.'' 

Whatever  comes  between  me  and  God  must  go.  .  .  . 
Not  until  the  vessel  is  emptied,  can  it  be  filled.  While 
with  the  young  Ruler  it  was  money,  with  me  it  may  be 
pride  or  personal  preference  or  opinions,  or  reputation, 
but  whatever  it  is,  it  must  "go"  before  I  can  "have" 
and  come  and  follow  my  Lord. 

(29)     "  ^  hundredfold. ' ' 

Ten  thousand  per  cent,  guaranteed !  What  better  in- 
vestment could  anyone  ask?  And  that  is  assured  "for 
this  life,"  while  over  and  above  that,  is  assured  "life  ever- 
lasting."    Oh  !  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wis- 


Devotional  Meditations  l6l 

dom  and  the  knowledge  of  God !  This  is  no  mere 
sentimental,  impractical  promise,  but  one  that  relates  to 
houses  and  lands  and  friends  and  family,  now  and  here, 
no  less  than  hereafter.  What  man  may  have  more  true, 
choice  friends  than  the  man  whose  travelling  life  takes  him 
much  from  home  ?  And  have  I  not  found  it  so  ?  Yes,  a 
thousand  per  cent,  literally. 

Prayer : 

Lord,  make  me  so  pure  in  heart  that  I  may  have  much 
in  common  with  little  children.  Thou  hast  said  that  their 
angels  do  always  behold  the  face  of  my  Father  in  heaven 
(Matt.  i8  :  lo)  and  Thou  hast  also  said,  that  the  pure  in 
heart  shall  see  God  (Matt.  5  :  8).  Therefore,  graciously 
grant  me  the  heart-purity  of  the  little  child,  so  as  always 
to  see  Thy  face  and  ever  to  live  the  life  of  heaven  on 
earth. 

Through  Jesus  Christ  my  Lord,  Amen, 


i62  The  Messiah 


TWENTY-SIXTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  20. 

Title : 

''The  Last    .     .     .     First'' {y.  16). 

Thought : 

Jesus  likens  the  Kingdom  to  a  householder  hiring  work- 
men (1-16),  again  foretells  His  Crucifixion  and  Resurrec- 
tion (17-19),  corrects  the  ambition  of  the  mother  of  James 
and  John  (20-28)  and  opens  blind  eyes,  a  second  time 
(29-34). 

Truth : 

(14)     '' It  is  Mywilir 

This  is  enough  for  every  loyal  follower  of  the  Lord. 
"  God  wills  it,"  is  the  end  of  all  doubt  on  any  point. 
God  makes  no  mistake.     His  will  is  best. 

"  Thou  sweet  beloved  will  of  God, 
My  anchor  ground,  my  fortress  hill. 
My  spirit's  silent  sweet  abode, 
In  Thee  I  hide  me  and  am  still. 

"  O  will  that  wiliest  good  alone. 

Lead  Thou  the  way,  Thou  guidest  best, 
A  little  child  I  follow  on 

And,  trusting,  lean  upon  Thy  breast. 

"Thy  beautiful  sweet  will,  my  God, 
Holds  fast  in  its  sublime  embrace 
My  captive  will,  a  gladsome  bird. 
Prisoned  in  such  a  realm  of  grace." 

(16)     ''Last    .     .     .    first:' 

The  Thibetan  and  Korean  shall  have  just  as  good  a 


Devotional  Meditations  163 

chance  in  the  age-long,  world-wide  vineyard  as  the  true 
Jew  who  was  called  out  of  Ur  of  the  Chaldees  in  the  very 
first  hour  of  the  day.  In  this  sense,  too,  <*a  thousand 
years  are  as  a  day"  (2  Pet.  3:8).  Time  does  not  count 
in  the  working  out  of  the  Kingdom  whose  hours  are  aeons. 
What  is  a  thousand  years  in  the  life  of  the  Son  of  God  or 
even  of  a  Son  of  God  ? 

(22)     '*  Ye  know  not  what  ye  ask.'^ 

How  many  a  prayer  is  uttered  in  ignorance  and  if  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative,  what  a  curse  it  would  be  to 
him  who  has  asked  it.  Fortunately,  God,  while  always 
answering  the  prayers  of  His  children,  reserves  the  right 
to  answer  either  in  the  affirmative  or  negative,  according 
to  His  infinite  wisdom.  Who  would  have  it  otherwise  ? 
For  **  we  know  not  how  to  pray  as  we  ought"  (Rom. 
8  :  26).  But  happily  the  Father  has  not  left  us  alone  in 
the  infirmity  of  our  ignorance.  He  has  given  us  "  an- 
other Helper."  *'  The  Spirit  Himself  maketh  intercession 
for  us  with  groanings  which  cannot  be  uttered,  and  He 
that  searcheth  the  hearts,  knoweth  what  is  the  mind  of  the 
Spirit,  because  He  maketh  intercession  for  the  saints  ac- 
cording to  the  will  of  God^^  (Rom.  8  :  27).  Herein  is  the 
provision  for  our  ignorance. 

Prayer : 

Lord,  Thy  will  be  done  in  me  even  as  in  heaven. 
Help  me  to  know  Thy  will,  that  I  may  do  it ;  help  me  to 
do  it,  that  I  may  come  to  know  it  better.  For  I  am  very 
ignorant  and  oftentimes  I  ask  what  Thou  knowest  is  not 
best  for  me.  Make  me  willing  to  have  my  prayers  an- 
swered in  the  negative,  if  Thou  shouldest  see  that  to  be 
best. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


164  The   Messiah 


TWENTY-SEVENTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  21. 

Title : 

*^JIosanna  "  (v.  9). 

Thought : 

The  King  enters  the  Capital  (i-ii)  and  the  Temple 
(12-17)  ;  next  morning,  returning,  He  curses  the  fruitless 
fig-tree  (18-22)  and  meets  the  challenge  of  the  chief  priests 
as  to  His  authority,  giving  the  illustration  of  the  two  sons 
(23-32)  and  the  parable  of  the  Householder  seeking  in 
vain  for  fruit  (33-46). 

Truth  : 

(2)  *^  Loose  them  and  bring  them  unto  Me. ^^  .  .  . 
(3)     ' '  The  Lord  hath  need  of  them.' ' 

Whatever  is  required  to  bring  back  the  King,  I  must 
hasten  to  put  at  His  disposal.  My  heart  is  His  Temple, 
my  will  His  royal  Throne.  Why  am  I  so  slow  to  bring 
the  King  to  His  own  ?  Whether  great  or  small,  all  things 
must  be  pressed  into  the  service.  "Every  beast  .  .  . 
is  Mine"  (Psalm  50:  10),  He  declares.  And  many  of 
these  are  tied  up  so  that  they  cannot  be  used.  What 
forces  are  there  in  my  life  that  need  to  be  set  free  ?  All 
sorts  of  ties  are  to  be  loosened.  The  Lord  who  "  has 
need  "  of  even  commonplace  things,  must  be  given  right  of 
way 

"  Over  our  wills  and  affections, 

Freely  surrendered  and  wholly  Thine  own." 


Devotional  Meditations  165 

(13)     *  *  My  house  shall  be  called  a  House  of  Prayer. ' ' 

Anything  that  hinders  communion  with  God  must  go, 
whether  it  be  money-making  or  pleasure-seeking,  or  what- 
ever it  be.  If  the  spirit  of  commerciahsm  or  religious 
profession  or  any  other  form  of  the  self-life  be  admitted,  it 
will  surely  drive  out  prayer.  *'What  manner  of  house 
will  ye  build  Me  ?  saith  the  Lord  :  Or  what  is  the  place 
of  My  rest  ?  "  (Is.  dd',  i).  God  is  seeking  a  place  to  abide 
in  human  life,  in  my  life.  And  only  as  a  relation  of  mutual 
confidence  and  communion  is  established  with  God, 
within  me,  is  the  function  of  ''  my  house  "  fulfilled. 

(18)     ^^  Leaves  only y 

Leaves  have  their  use.  They  are  the  lungs  of  the  tree, 
taking  in  moisture  and  sunshine.  They  afford  shade. 
But  the  fruit-tree  that  has  <'only  leaves"  is  living  a  lie. 
So  is  the  man  who  makes  a  profession  with  no  correspond- 
ing possession.  Such  was  the  Jewish  nation,  and  Jesus 
condemned  it,  root  and  branch,  with  a  withering  curse. 
He  could  do  this  because  His  own  life  was  so  consistent, 
so  fruitful,  so  prayerful.     Is  mine  ? 

(22)  ^^  And  all  things,  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in 
prayer,  believing,  ye  shall  receive. ' ' 

There  is  only  one  qualification  to  this  promise,  and  that 
is  that  the  request  be  according  to  the  will  of  God.  There 
is  absolutely  no  limitation  to  the  possibilities  put  within 
the  power  of  him  who  is  in  touch  with  the  power  of  God. 
Undaunted  by  any  difficulty,  do  I  rely  implicitly  upon 
Him  to  remove  the  mountain  who  made  the  mountain  ? 

(25)     "  From  heaven  or  from  men  ?  " 

This  is  the  supreme  test  to  be  applied  to  everything  in 
life:  is  it,  in  its  origin  and  character,  its  motives  and 
methods,  divine  or  merely  human,  "from  heaven  or  from 
men  "  ?     He  who  is  born  from  above  should  be  continually 


l66  The  Messiah 

dealing  with  the  supernatural.  Am  I  applying  this  prin- 
ciple in  my  life,  continually  ? 

(27)     ^^  We     .     .     .     know  noty 

Agnosticism  is  a  cowardly  retreat  from  between  the  two 
horns  of  a  dilemma,  a  short-cut  by  a  back  door  out  of  the 
difficulty  of  facing  the  hard  problems  of  life.  It  is  the  cut- 
ting of  a  knot  which  should  be  patiently  untied,  though  it 
take  time  and  toil  to  do  it.  To  those  who  resort  to  such  a 
subterfuge,  Jesus  inevitably  replies,  ''Neither  do  I  tell 
you."  To  those  who  are  content  to  ''know  nothing," 
there  is  no  revelation  possible.  Only  those  who  "seek" 
may  expect  to  "  find,"  only  to  those  who  "  knock,"  shall 
it  be  opened. 

(42)  "  The  stone  which  the  builders  rejected^  the 
same  was  made  the  head  of  the  corner. '' 

Here  is  "  the  Living  Stone  "  (i  Pet.  2  :  4),  the  Rock  that 
followed  the  church  in  the  wilderness  (i  Cor.  10 :  4),  the 
Stone  that  was  cut  out  of  the  side  of  the  mountain  (Dan. 
2  :  34),  brought  at  length  to  the  site  of  the  Temple,  where 
was  to  be  begun  the  building  of  that  "  spiritual  house  " 
(i  Pet.  2:5)  which  is  to  fill  the  whole  earth  !  And,  lo, 
the  builders  rejected  that  Living  Stone  ! 

(43)  "  The  Kingdo7n  of  God  shall  betaken  away  from 
yoUy  and  given  to  a  nation  bringing  forth  the  fruits 
thereof:' 

Loss  is  the  penalty  of  disuse  or  abuse,  whether  in  a  nation 
or  an  individual.  History  has  repeated  this  lesson  again 
and  again.  Thus  Great  Britain  lost  the  American  colonies. 
And  one  after  another,  the  Portuguese,  the  Dutch,  the 
Danes,  the  French  and  the  East  India  Company  lost  their 
hold  on  India,  because  of  their  short-sighted  selfishness 
and  grasping  greed.     This  law  applies  no  less  to  the  in- 


Devotional  Meditations  167 

dividual.     Am  I  producing  the  fruit  of  the  Kingdom? 
That  fruit  is  Love  (Gal.  5  :  22). 

Prayer ; 

Lord,  help  me  to  bring  Thee  in  as  king  to  every  de- 
partment of  my  life.  Enable  me  to  release  every  force 
and  put  it  at  Thy  disposal.  Let  me  not  be  barren  or  un- 
fruitful, lest  I  lose  the  power  to  serve  Thee. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


l68  The  Messiah 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  22. 

Title : 

"  Question  "  (vs.  35,  41). 

Thought : 

Having  likened  the  Kingdom  to  a  King  who  made  a 
marriage  feast  for  His  Son  (1-14),  He  is  assailed  with 
questions  :  from  the  Herodians  as  to  paying  tax,  duty  to 
the  state  (15-22),  the  Sadducees  as  to  marriage  relations 
after  death,  family  ties  (23-33),  the  Pharisees,  as  to  *'  the 
great  commandment,"  duties  of  religion  (34-40),  and  Jesus, 
having  given  an  unanswerable  answer  to  each,  puts  to  them 
the  puzzling  problem  as  to  whose  Son  the  Christ  is  (41-46). 

Truth: 

(12)     ''Friendr 

Jesus  is  indeed  "  the  friend  of  sinners."  Even  the  man 
who  rejects  the  wedding-robe  is  still  a  "  friend  "  ;  likewise 
the  man  who  is  dissatisfied  with  his  pay  (20  :  13)  and  even 
the  one  who  betrays  the  Saviour  with  a  kiss  (26  :  50),  is  still 
called  "friend."  And  who  is  so  faithful  to  the  fauhs  of 
his  friends?  The  one  who  complains  about  his  pay  is 
plainly  told  that  his  eye  is  "  evil  "  (20 :  15) ;  to  one  who  is 
in  the  innermost  circle,  He  says,  "Get  thee  behind  me, 
Satan :  thou  art  a  stumbling-block  unto  me,  for  thou 
raindest  not  the  things  of  God,  but  the  things  of  men " 
(16:  23). 


Devotional  Meditations  169 

(12)  ^^  Hozu  earnest  thou  in  hither y  not  having  a  wed- 
ding garment  ?  " 

(Literally  "not  endued  with  the  enduement  of  the 
feast  "  or  **  not  covered  with  the  covering  provided  for  the 
feast.")  There  was  one  man,  particularly,  whom  the 
Master  may  have  had  in  mind.  For  three  years  and  more 
this  man  had  been  in  the  circle  of  the  Twelve,  yet  not  of 
it.  He  had  not  "the  enduement."  To  Judas,  sooner  or 
later,  must  come  the  inevitable  separation.  And  at  last  he 
went  out  and  "  it  was  night  "  (John  13  :  30).  To  be  ex- 
cluded forever  from  the  presence  of  Jesus,  that  were 
"outer  darkness,"  indeed.  And  there  to  this  day,  that 
man  continues  his  "weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth."  But 
such  must  be  the  end  of  every  one  who  refuses  to  be 
"  clothed  with  the  garments  of  salvation  .  .  .  covered 
with  the  robe  of  righteousness  "  (Is.  61  :  10).  Nor  is 
there  any  injustice,  for  not  the  guest  but  the  host  provides 
the  robe,  and  they  only  are  excluded  who  could  wear  it, 
but  would  not.  Am  I  clad  in  the  Robe  of  His  Righteous- 
ness (Is.  61  :  10),  "the  garment  of  praise  "  (Is.  61  :  3), 
"white  garments  "  (Eccl.  9  :  8),  "  beautiful  garments  "  ? 
(Is.  52:1.) 

(21)     ^*  Render  unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's." 

God's  things,  what  does  that  not  include ?  "In  the  be- 
ginning God  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth" 
(Gen.  i:  i).  And  the  whole  includes  every  part.  Among 
other  things,  I  must  present  my  body  a  living  sacrifice 
unto  God  (Rom.  12:  i) ;  that  is  "reasonable."  And 
the  body  includes  mind  and  spirit,  as  well  as  the  physical 
powers.  The  money  that  I  happen  to  have,  too,  is  His  and 
I  only  hold  it  in  trust  for  Him.  Am  I  really  rendering 
"  unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's  "  ? 

(29)     "  Ye  do  erry  not  knowing  the  Scriptures.'^ 


170  The   Messiah 

All  error  consists  in  departing  from  divine  lines,  and  as 
these  are  clearly  laid  down  in  the  Scriptures,  the  only  safe 
way  is  to  "search  the  Scriptures"  for  the  things  that  are 
therein  revealed.  And  in  doing  so,  I  have  ''Another 
Helper,"  who  has  promised  to  "  guide  me  into  the  whole 
Truth  "  (John  16  :  13) ;  hence  I  need  not  err. 
(38)  ''  The  great  and  first  commandment  ^ 
To  get  at  the  ''chief  point"  (Heb.  8  ;  i),  one  must 
think  through  all  that  is  merely  accidental  into  that  which 
is  really  essential,  the  very  kernel  of  the  matter.  And  that 
one  indispensable  thing  is  Love.  There  is  only  one  way 
to  live  at  high-tide  and  that  is  to  love — to  deny  self  in- 
deed, to  take  up  the  cross,  not  to  count  one's  own  life  dear 
unto  one's  self,  to  lose  one's  self  in  thinking  of  the  needs 
of  others.  If  a  man  cannot  show  that  he  thus  loves  his 
brother,  he  cannot  claim  to  truly  love  God  at  all.  "  Love 
is  the  fulfilling  of  the  Law"  (Gal.  5  :  14).  Who  that 
truly  loves  his  neighbour  will  kill  or  rob  or  do  anything  else 
to  harm  him  ?  Who  that  loves  God,  will  have  "  other 
gods  "  or  worship  idols  or  otherwise  sin  against  Him? 

«  Us  with  no  other  gospel  thou  ensnarest, 

Fiend  from  beneath  or  angel  from  above  j 
Knowing  one  thing  the  sacredest  and  fairest, 
Knowing  there  is  not  anything  but  Love." 


(41)     ^*  Jesus  asked  them  a  question.'*^ 

Sooner  or  later  Jesus  will  put  questions  to  all.  He  is  to 
conduct  the  final  examination,  and  well  will  it  be  then  for 
those  who  have  come  unto  Him  to  learn  in  the  school  of 
Christ.  He  began  early,  "  in  the  temple  hearing  and  ask- 
ing questions"  (Luke  2  :  46).  None  who  have  met  His 
search-light  questions  have  ever  been  able  to  get  away  from 


Devotional  Meditations  171 

them.     To  Peter,  He  put  the  test  question,  "Lovest  thou 
Me  ?  ' '     What  is  He  asking  me  ? 

Prayer  : 

O  Thou,  the  Friend  of  sinners,  bring  me  into  Thy  ban- 
queting house  and  spread  over  me  Thy  canopy  of  Love 
(Song  of  Sol.  2:4).  Be  Thou  still  my  faithful  friend, 
reproving  my  faults,  encouraging  my  faith.  Enable  me  to 
be  true  to  every  relation  of  life,  doing  my  duty  to  the  state, 
faithful  to  my  family,  obeying  God's  commands,  hiding 
Thy  Word  in  my  heart. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen. 


172  The  Messiah 


TWENTY-NINTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  23. 
Title  : 

«  Woe''  (vs.  13,  15,  16,  23,  25,  29). 

Thought : 

After  openly  warning  the  people  against  Pharisaic  in- 
consistency (1-12),  Jesus  utters  a  series  of  seven  woes 
concerning  (a)  shutting  the  Kingdom,  (^)  proselytizing, 
(c)  swearing,  (d)  tithing,  (e)  cleansing  the  outside  only, 
(/)  covering  up  corruption,  (g)  disavowing  responsibility 
(<^3-3^y>  t^^^  He  utters  a  lamentation  over  Jerusalem 
(37-39)- 

Truth : 

(8)     "  One  is  your  Teacher  (<?),  Father  (p).  Master 

There  is  one  God  and  Jesus  is  His  prophet.  If  Jesus 
were  recognized  as  the  one  and  only  teacher  and  His  word 
the  final  authority  on  every  point,  there  would  be  an  end 
to  sectarianism  and  schism.  If  God  were  everywhere 
known  and  honoured  as  **  the  only  living  and  true  God," 
there  would  be  an  end  to  all  polytheism  and  idolatry. 
"  And  this  is  eternal  life,  to  know  Thee,  the  only  living 
and  true  God  and  Him  whom  Thou  didst  send,  even 
Jesus  Christ  "  (John  17  :  3). 

(27)  *'  Outwardly  beautiful,  but  inwardly  full  of 
,     ,     .     all  uncleanness'' 

The  vials  of  His  wrath  are  reserved  for  those  who  ap- 


Devotional  Meditations  173 

pear  other  than  they  really  are.  He  cannot  abide  hum- 
bug. Hypocrisy  withers  before  His  breath.  Woe  to  the 
hypocrite  when  Jesus  draws  near  !  He  insists  upon 
honesty,  straightforwardness,  reality.  All  sham  shall  be 
shamed  away  by  His  presence.  "  And  the  kings  of  the 
earth,  and  the  princes,  and  the  chief  captains,  and  the 
rich,  and  the  strong,  and  every  bondman  and  freeman, 
hid  themselves  in  the  caves  and  in  the  rocks  of  the  moun- 
tains ;  and  they  say  to  the  mountains  and  to  the  rocks. 
Fall  on  us,  and  hide  us  from  the  face  of  Him  that  sitteth 
on  the  throne  and  from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb  :  for  the 
great  day  of  their  wrath  is  come ;  and  who  is  able  to 
stand?"  (Rev.  6:  15-17). 

(30)     "  Upon  this  generation.''^ 

If  men  will  not  carry  out  God's  will  within  this  genera- 
Hon,  it  is  perfectly  possible  for  God  to  do  so,  and  He  will 
undoubtedly  do  it  without  us,  but  the  failure  will  neces- 
sarily entail  a  fearful  penalty  *'  upon  this  generation."  Am 
I  incurring  any  part  of  the  "  woe  "  here  pronounced  ? 

Prayer : 

Lord,  that  I  may  know  Thee  and  the  power  of  Thy 
resurrection  and  the  fellowship  of  Thy  sufferings 
(Phil  3 :  10).  Cleanse  me  thoroughly — through  and 
through — from  sin.  Save  me  from  hypocrisy.  Enable 
me  to  shun  all  that  is  false  in  myself  and  to  speak  out  against 
it  in  others  wherever  and  whenever  I  find  it.  So  may  I  not 
incur  "  woe  "  upon  myself,  and  may  I  do  my  part  to  pre- 
vent the  coming  of  it  *'  upon  this  generation."  Help  me 
to  weep  with  Thee  when  Thy  people  know  not  the  day  of 
their  visitation  and  are  unwilling  in  the  day  of  Thy 
power  (Psalm  no  :  3). 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


174  The   Messiah 


THIRTIETH  DAY 

MATTHEW  24. 

Title : 

**  Tribulation  "  (vs.  9,  20,  29). 

Thought : 

Predicting  the  overthrow  of  the  Temple  (1-2),  Jesus 
discusses  the  signs  of  the  end  of  the  age  (3-14)  and  warns 
His  disciples  to  be  on  their  guard  (15-28)  watching  for 
His  coming  (29-31),  and  He  illustrates,  by  the  fig-tree, 
the  need  of  watchfulness  (32-44),  appealing  finally 
for  faithfulness  and  wisdom  in  every  servant  of  His 
(45-50- 

Truth : 

(14)  ^^  This  Gospel  .  .  .  shall  he  preached  in  the 
whole  world    .     .     .     and  then  shall  the  end  come.  ^^ 

But  one  condition  is  yet  unfulfilled.  There  have  al- 
ready been  many  false  Christs,  and  wars  and  rumours  of 
war,  famine  and  earthquakes  and  defections  from  the 
faith  ;  it  only  remains  now  that  "  this  Gospel  of  the  King- 
dom shall  be  preached  in  the  whole  world  for  a  witness 
unto  all  the  nations,  and  then  shall  the  end  come."  And 
what  is  there  to  hinder  this  from  being  done  within  this 
generation  ?  We  have  the  Master's  command.  His  mes- 
sage, the  motive,  the  men,  the  money.  The  whole  earth 
is  wide  open.  Rapid  transit  and  quick  communication 
are  now  secured.  Why  longer  delay  the  end  by  our  dis- 
obedience ?  Shall  I  not  at  least  do  my  part,  no  matter 
what  others  may  do  or  fail  to  do  ? 


Devotional  Meditations  175 

(33)     ''  He  is  nigh,  even  at  the  doors.'' 

Do  I  believe  it  ?  Am  I  living  as  though  Christ  might 
come  at  any  moment?  Is  this  ''blessed  hope"  (Titus 
2  :  13)  affecting  my  conduct,  shaping  my  character,  stim- 
ulating my  service,  inspiring  my  faith,  sustaining  my  hope 
and  quickening  my  love  for  all  about  me,  the  unlovely  as 
well  as  the  lovable  ?     If  not,  why  not  ? 

"  What  can  we  do  o'er  whom  the  unbeholden 

Hangs  in  a  night  with  which  we  cannot  cope  ; 
What  but  look  sunward  and  with  faces  golden 
Speak  to  each  other  softly  of  a  hope  ?  " 

(36)     ' '  Not  even  the  Son.'' 

What  a  state-secret,  that  the  Father  should  keep  it  from 
even  His  ''only  begotten  and  well-beloved  Son,"  His 
bosom  companion.  His  "fellow"  !  (Zech.  13  :  7).  And  if 
even  the  Son  Himself  does  not  know  when  He  is  to  come, 
why  then  should  I  presume  to  pry  into  His  secret  counsels 
and  try  to  determine  the  day  or  the  hour  ?  Enough  to 
know  that  the  event  is  imminent  and  to  live  in  constant 
expectation  of  His  return  "  in  like  manner  as  He  went 
away"  (Acts  i  :  11).     Is  this  my  constant  attitude? 

(45)     "  To  give  thein  their  food," 

The  feeding  of  His  sheep  and  lambs  (John  21  :  i5-i7)\ 
is  a  supreme  test  of  the  faithfulness  of  the  follower  of 
"the  chief  shepherd"  (i  Pet.  5  :  4).  Watching  is  not 
idle  waiting.  It  is  work.  It  is  unceasing,  unselfish 
service.  He  who  is  looking  for  "  the  end "  will  be 
taken  up  with  two  objects,  mainly,  viz.:  "his  Lord" 
and  "  his  household." 

Prayer : 

Lord,  teach  me  to  be  really  looking  for  Thee,  all  the 
while.     Let  me  not  pry  into  secrets  that  are  not  for  me  to 


176  The  Messiah 

know.  I  do  not  ask  to  know  "  times  or  seasons  which  the 
Father  has  set  within  His  own  authority"  (Acts  i:  7). 
Help  me  to  do  my  utmost  to  prepare  the  way  for  Thy  re- 
turn, to  give  the  gospel  to  the  whole  world  and  to  feed 
Thy  sheep  and  lambs. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen. 


Devotional  Meditations  177 


THIRTY-FIRST  DAY 

MATTHEW  25. 

Title : 

''Throne''  (v.  31). 

Thought : 

Referring  still  to  the  King's  coming  again,  the  Lord  likens 
the  Kingdom  to  Ten  Virgins  (1-13),  lo  a  man  committing 
his  estate  to  stewards  (14-30),  then  pictures  the  Judg- 
ment-Seat, in  the  parable  of  the  sheep  and  the  goats 
(31-46). 

Truth  : 

(6 )     ' '  Behold  the  Bridegroom . ' ' 

Whatever  the  uncertainty  as  to  the  hour,  there  is  one 
point  upon  which  there  seems  to  be  no  doubt  whatever : 
the  cry  of  His  Coming  will  sound  in  the  night.  It  will  be 
dark.  Those  who  are  watching  and  waiting  will  need 
oil.  And  those  who  are  without  that  will  be  foolish  indeed. 
Am  I  supplied  with  "oil  "  ?  Am  I  among  those  who  are 
watching? 

(8 )     "  Lamps  going  out. ' ' 

A  little  "oil"  is  not  enough  to  last  through  the  dark 
night.  What  is  needed  is  a  reserve  of  power  for  the  time 
of  need.  The  command  to  me  and  to  all  is  to  "  be  filled 
with  the  Spirit"  (Eph.  5:  18).  Zechariah  found  the 
secret  of  an  unfailing  supply,  when  he  learned  the  con- 
nection between  the  glowing  lamps  and  the  olive  trees 


178 


The   Messiah 


(Zech.  4),  trees  ever  growing,  oil  ever  flowing,  lamps  ever 
glowing  !     Have  I  this  source  of  supply  ? 

(14)     ^^  To  each  according  to  his  several  ability  ^ 

Talent  is  not  "ability,"  but  the  bestowal  of  it  is  de- 
termined by  ability.  The  Lord  gives  to  every  one  just 
as  much  as  he  is  able  to  use  to  advantage.  "Ability"  is 
subjective,  talents  objective,  but  both  are  God-given. 
*'  Ye  shall  receive  ability  (or  power)  when  the  Holy  Spirit 
is  come  upon  you  "  (Acts  1:8).  And  "  your  heavenly 
Father  will  give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  who  ask  Him  " 
(Luke  II  :  13).  Hence  I  am  responsible  if  I  fail  to  obtain 
the  "power,"  upon  which  depends  what  talents  can  be 
bestowed  on  me. 

(23)     "  Good  and faithfuir 

It  is  not  enough  to  be  good.  I  must,  likewise,  do  good. 
I  must  do  my  best  as  well  as  be  the  best  I  possibly  can. 
And  to  undertake  only  so  much  as  I  can  do  well,  and  be 
at  my  best,  that  is  what  I  need  to  know.  Christian  service 
is  not  a  matter  of  quantity,  but  of  quality.  The  two- 
talent  man  receives  the  same  degree  at  the  Lord's  hands, 
as  the  ten-talent  man,  but  each  doubles  what  is  committed 
to  him. 

(40)  "  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  one  of  these  My 
brethren^  even  these  leasts  ye  did  it  unto  Me." 

"Even  these" — the  hungry,  or  athirst,  or  stranger  or 
naked,  or  sick — those  in  need  are  the  ones  with  whom  Jesus 
doth  most  love  to  identify  Himself.  Do  I  ?  Here  is  the 
place  for  me  to  begin  to  do  good.  Let  me  look  about  and 
see  where  the  need  is  greatest  and  then  help  to  help  the 
needy.  Thus  and  thus  only  can  I  enter  into  "the  joy  of 
my  Lord."  I  may  find  other  joy  otherwise,  but  not  the 
Lord's  own  genuine  joy.     And  that  is  what  I  want. 

(45)     ''Did  it  not y 


Devotional  Meditations  179 

Doing  nothing  is  enough  to  bring  condemnation.  Sins 
of  omission  may  be  as  fatal  as  those  committed.  It  is  not 
only  wrong  to  do  wrong,  but  it  is  also  wrong  not  to  do 
right.  Am  I  doing  my  duty  towards  the  poor  and  needy 
round  about  me  ? 

Prayer ; 

O  Thou  blessed  Bridegroom,  make  me  a  son  of  oil 
(Zech.  4:  14).  Anoint  me  with  **  the  oil  of  gladness" 
(Heb.  I  :  9).  Fill  me  with  'nhe  oil  of  joy  "  (Is.  61  :  3). 
Help  me  to  be  both  "good  and  faithful,"  and,  while 
Thou  dost  delay  Thy  return,  enable  me  to  watch.  Let 
me  not  come  under  the  condemnation  of  not  having  done 
everything  that  Thou  dost  expect  me  to  do. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


l8o  The  Messiah 


THIRTY-SECOND  DAY 

MATTHEW  26:  1-29. 

Title : 

"  The  Cup  "  (vs.  27,  39). 

Thought : 

The  authorities  take  counsel  (1-5),  Mary  anoints  Jesus 
(6-1 3)>  Judas  bargains  to  betray  Him  (14-16),  the  dis- 
ciples prepare  for  the  Passover  (17-19),  during  which 
Jesus  exposes  Judas  (20-25),  ^^^r  which  He  institutes  the 
Lord's  Supper  (26-29). 

Truth: 

(7)  ^^  An  alabaster  flask  of  exceeding  precious  oint- 
7nenty 

No  doubt  it  was  precious  in  that  it  had  cost  much 
money.  And  there  are  those  who  would  have  objected  to 
our  Lord  receiving  it,  on  the  ground  that  it  was  ''tainted 
money."  But  He  seems  to  have  considered  that  somehow 
the  taint  had  been  removed.  He  seems  to  take  into  ac- 
count not  so  much  the  method  by  which  the  money  was 
acquired,  as  the  motive  wherewith  it  was  given.  And  a 
like  principle  may  still  be  safely  applied. 

(8)  **  This  waster 

That  is  not  lost  which  is  expended  on  Christ.  In  His 
eyes,  it  was  "a  good  work,"  an  anointing  for  burial. 
How  utterly  different  does  the  same  act  appear  according 
to  different  standards?  Whatever  I  expend  upon  my 
Lord,  if  He  but  count  it  "good  work,"  no  matter  though 


Devotional  Meditations  181 

others  pronounce  it  '<  waste,"  will  prove  a  good  invest- 
ment indeed. 

(12)     '  *  She  did  it  to  prepare  Me  for  burial. ' ' 

What  this  woman  brought  may  have  weighed  less,  but  it 
counted  for  more  than  the  hundred  weight  of  myrrh  and 
aloes  which  rich  men  brought  (John  19:  39).  For  she 
came  '*  aforehand,"  but  they  when  it  was  too  late  for  any 
word  of  commendation  from  Christ.  Let  me  not  postpone 
what  I  do  for  my  Lord. 

(25)     ''hit  I,  Rabbi?'' 

"Is  it  I,  Lord?  "  (v.  22)  asked  all  the  others.  "  Is  it 
I,  Rabbi?''  asked  Judas.  If  Jesus  is  no  more  than 
"Teacher"  to  me,  I  am  not  likely  to  find  His  authority 
supreme  in  my  life.  He  who  was  '*  Lord  "  to  John 
(John  13  :  25)  and  "My  Lord  and  my  God  "  to  Thomas 
(John  20:  28),  is  only  "Rabbi  "  to  Judas.  Herein  lies 
the  key  to  the  issues  of  life  with  these  men.  The  supreme 
life-choice  is  as  to  who  is  to  have  the  supremacy  and  really 
rule  the  life.     Is  Jesus  "  Rabbi  "  or  "  Lord  "  ? 

Prayer : 

O  Thou  who  dost  reckon  the  value  of  what  is  given 
Thee  by  the  love  it  represents,  help  me  to  give  Thee  what 
really  costs.  Forbid  that  I  should  give  Thee  only  what  I 
can  spare.  Teach  me  to  give  until  it  hurts  and  then  to 
give  until  it  does  not  hurt.  Help  me  not  to  delay  until  it 
is  too  late,  but  to  be  aforehand  with  my  giving.  Be  Thou 
not  merely  a  teacher  to  me,  but,  likewise,  my  Lord. 

For  Thy  Name's  sake,  Amen, 


l82  The  Messiah 


THIRTY-THIRD  DAY 

MATTHEW  26:  30-75. 

Title : 

''The  Cup''  (vs.  27,  39). 

Thought : 

Jesus  repairs  to  the  Garden  (30),  forewarns  Peter 
(31-35),  Himself  proceeds  to  pray  and  the  disciples  to 
sleep  (36-46) ;  He  is  arrested  (47-56),  and  taken  to  the 
house  of  Caiaphas  and  examined  (57-68),  where  Peter 
denies  Him  (69-75). 

Truth  : 

(39)  <'  He  went  forward  a  little  and  fell  on  His  face 
and  prayed. '' 

In  the  prayer-life  there  are  degrees.  It  is  in  prayer  that 
the  difference  between  the  Master  and  His  disciples  and 
between  one  disciple  and  another  does  most  appear. 
Some  disciples  go  with  Jesus  into  Gethsemane,  others — 
and  they  are  fewer — go  on  with  Him  into  a  further  fellow- 
ship, in  the  travail  of  His  soul,  but  even  beyond  the 
furthest  outpost,  Jesus  Himself  goes  "forward  a  little." 
How  far  have  I  gone  ?  Do  I  know  anything  at  all  of  the 
Gethsemane  experience  ?  Am  I  in  the  closer  communion 
of  those  whom  He  invites  with  Him  into  the  inner  circle  ? 

(39)     "  Thy  will  be  doner 

'*Thy  will  be  done"  is  the  high- water  mark  of  Chris- 
tian experience  and  attainment,  the  '' hall  mark  "  of  all 
sterling  character,  the  very  essence  of  all  true  prayer.     It 


Devotional  Meditations  183 

is  the  sum  and  substance  of  the  paper  set  for  the  final  ex- 
amination in  the  School  of  Life.  Oh,  to  learn  it  well  and 
early,  as  Jesus  did,  who  said  *'I  delight  to  do  Thy  will'* 
(Ps.  40  :  8) ;  "He  that  doeth  the  will  of  the  Father  "  in 
heaven,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  (Matt.  7:21);  "  Who- 
soever shall  do  the  will  of  God,"  the  same  is  Jesus'  brother 
(Mark  3  :  35);  "If  any  man  willeth  to  do  His  will,  he 
shall  know  of  the  teaching"  (John  7  :  17).  *' He  that 
doeth  the  will  of  God  abideth  forever  "  (i  John  2  :  17). 
(41)  ^^  Pray  that  ye  enter  not  into  tetnptation.'' 
It  is  one  of  the  petitions  which  the  Lord  put  into  the 
model  prayer,  "Lead  us  not  into  temptation."  While  He 
has  provided  for  the  contingency  in  case  one  gets  into 
temptation  and  needs  to  be  delivered  from  the  Evil  One, 
yet  our  Lord's  plan  would  effectually  obviate  all  need  for 
that.  He  first  furnishes  the  "ounce  of  prevention,"  and 
that  is  worth  a  pound  of  cure. 

Prayer : 

Lord,  teach  me  to  pray,  even  as  Thou  didst  teach  Thy 
disciples  on  that  last  night  when  Thou  wast  betrayed. 
Lead  me  "a  little  forward"  in  my  prayer  life.  Help 
me  by  prayer  to  prepare  for  the  hour  of  temptation  and 
trial.  "Vouchsafe,  O  Lord,  to  keep  us  this  day  without 
sin."  And,  whatever  may  come,  may  I  ever  trustfully 
say,  "  Teach  me  to  do  Thy  will ;  for  Thou  art  my  God." 

For  the  sake  of  Thy  dear  Name,  Amen. 


184  The  Messiah 


THIRTY-FOURTH   DAY 

MATTHEW  37. 
Title : 

''The  VeiV  (v.  51). 

Thought : 

Judas'  remorse  and  suicide  (i-io),  Jesus  suffered  under 
Pontius  Pilate  (11-31),  was  crucified  (32-44),  dead 
(45-56)  and  buried  (57-66). 

Truth: 

(5 )     '^  He  went  away  and  hanged  himself. '  * 

The  sorrow  of  Peter  worked  repentance,  but  the  sorrow 
of  Judas  worked  death  (2  Cor.  7  :  10).  The  latter  brought 
only  remorse  and  vain  regret;  the  former  "earnest  care 
.  .  .  clearing  of  self  .  .  .  indignation  .  .  . 
fear  .  .  .  longing  .  .  .  zeal  .  .  .  aveng- 
ing "  (2  Cor.  7  :  11).     Of  which  word  is  my  sorrow  ? 

(12-14)  '^Accused  .  .  .  He  answered  nothing, 
.     .     .     no  answer,  not  even  a  word." 

Jesus  is  now  getting  the  blessing  which  He  promised  to 
others,  "  Blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall  reproach  you,  and 
persecute  you,  and  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you 
falsely,  for  My  sake"  (Matt.  5:11).  Is  there  any  severer 
test  than  to  be  falsely  accused  ?  Not  to  revile  when  I  am 
reviled,  but  to  bear  the  false  accusation  in  silence,  that  is 
"golden  "  indeed!  No  wonder  that  the  Governor  won- 
dered when  Jesus  showed  such  self-repression  !  Have  I 
learned  to  follow  Jesus  in  this  respect  ?    "  When  your  good 


Devotional  Meditations  185 

is  evil  spoken  of,  when  your  wishes  are  crossed,  your  tastes 
offended,  your  advice  disregarded,  your  opinions  ridiculed 
and  you  take  it  all  in  patient  and  loving  silence,  that  is 
victory  !  "  Is  this  victory  mine?  Have  I  learned  to  suf- 
fer in  silence  and  hold  my  peace  ? 

(22)     '*  W/iat,  then,  shall  I  do  with  Jesus  f 

Jesus  cannot  be  ignored.  He  may  be  accepted  or  re- 
jected. He  may  be  crowned  or  crucified.  But  He  can- 
not be  let  severely  alone.  He  crosses  every  man's  path. 
I  must  decide  what  my  attitude  to  Him  is  to  be.  The 
choice  is  between  Christ  and  Barabbas— between  the 
Anointed  and  the  Robber.  "  What,  then,  shall  I  do  with 
Jesus?"  By  and  by,  the  tables  will  be  turned.  The 
question  then  will  be.  What  will  Jesus  do  with  me  ?  And 
the  answer  to  this  question  will  then  depend  upon  my 
answer  now  to  the  other.  What  shall  the  answer  be? 
"  Choose  you  this  day  whom  ye  will  serve  "  (Josh.  24 :  15). 
Mary  chose  "  that  good  part  "  and  the  Master  commended 
her  choice  (Luke  10:  42).  Paul  could  say,  <'I  know 
Him  whom  I  have  believed  "  (2  Tim.  i  :  12). 

(42)     ^*  Himself  J  He  cannot  save.'* 

It  is  utterly  impossible  for  Him  who  denies  Himself  to 
save  Himself.  Herein  does  a  son  of  God  differ  from  a 
mere  son  of  Adam.  With  the  latter  the  first  law  of  nature 
is  self-preservation,  with  the  former  the  law  of  the  divine 
nature  is  self-denial.  '*  Whosoever  would  save  his  life 
shall  lose  it :  and  whosoever  shall  lose  his  life  for  My  sake 
shall  find  it"  (Matt.  16  :  25).  He  who  is  born  but  once, 
shall  die  twice,  but  he  who  is  born  twice,  can  die  but  once 
for  all.  "  The  Son  of  Man  came  .  .  .  to  give  His  life 
a  ransom  for  many  "  (Matt.  20  :  28).  So  Paul  counted 
not  his  life  of  any  account  unto  himself  (Acts  20 :  24), 
for  he  was  willing  "also   to  die"  for  the  name  of  the 


l86  The  Messiah 

Lord  Jesus.  Can  I  afford  to  save  myself?  ''  That  I  may 
know  Him,"  I  must  come  to  know  ''the  fellowship  of  His 
suffering  "  (Phil.  3  :  10). 

Prayer : 

Lord,  that  I  may  know  ''the  fellowship  of  Thy  suffer- 
ings" (Phil.  3  :  10),  that  I  may  learn  to  suffer  wrongfully 
and  hold  my  peace.  Teach  me  to  take  up  my  cross  daily 
and  follow  Thee.  Save  me  from  losing  my  life  by  trying 
to  save  it.  Grant  unto  me  the  victory  that  overcometh  the 
world,  even  faith  in  Thee  (i  John  5:  4),  who  art  the 
author  and  the  perfecter  of  faith  (Heb.  12:  2). 

To  the  glory  of  Thy  Name,  Amen, 


Devotional  Meditations  187 


THIRTY-FIFTH  DAY 

MATTHEW  28. 
Title : 

'*Air*  (vs.  18, 19, 20). 

Thought : 

Jesus  arises  from  the  dead  (i-io),  the  council  devises  a 
theory  to  account  for  His  disappearance  (11-15)  and  the 
Lord  meets  His  disciples  in  Galilee  and  gives  the  Great 
Commission  (16-20). 

Truth  : 

(7)  *'  Go  quickly  .  .  .  and  loy  He  goeth  before 
you. ' ' 

I  never  can  get  ahead  of  the  Leader.  If  I  obey  His 
"marching  orders,"  I  will  always  find  Him  going  before 
me,  making  a  way  through  all  doubts  and  difficulties  and 
dangers.  And  since  He  is  ever  ahead,  His  '*  Go  "  ever 
becomes  a  ''  Come."  And  the  message  of  the  resurrection 
is  an  urgent  message,  '<  Go  quickly."  Oh,  marvellous 
patience  of  Jesus,  to  anticipate  all  the  disobedience  and 
delay  of  His  followers,  and  yet  to  make  the  coming  of  the 
Kingdom  depend  upon  these  same  dilatory  disciples  ! 

(7)     ''Heisrisenr 

To  hear  that  announcement  for  the  first  time,  who  can 
imagine  the  effect  ?  It  is  without  a  precedent  in  all  the 
world's  history.  It  reverberates  like  a  peal  of  thunder,  roll- 
ing on  through  the  centuries  and  around  the  whole  wide 
world  !     ''  He  is  risen,"  and  with  Him  arises  the  world's 


i88  The  Messiah 

one  hope  of  redemption.  "He  is  risen,"  and  herein  lies 
my  own  hope  of  the  new  Life.  Let  me,  then,  arise  to 
*'  seek  the  things  that  are  above  "  (Col.  3:1). 

(18-20)  "  All  authority  .  .  .  all  nations  .  .  . 
all  things     .     .     .     all  the  days  ^ 

Oh,  the  height  and  breadth,  the  depth  and  length  of 
God's  plan  for  the  redemption  of  the  world  !  It  embraces 
all  space  and  all  time.  It  covers  both  heaven  and  earth. 
And  in  this  four-square  frame  is  set  this  imperative  com- 
mand, '*  Go  ye.''  All  is  made  to  depend  upon  the  faith- 
fulness of  His  followers.  And  what  a  responsibility  this 
entails  upon  me  !  For  it  is  only  as  I  know,  that  I  can  do 
His  will  (John  13  :  17);  and  this  includes  more  than  any 
university  course.  To  know  His  **  authority,"  necessitates 
a  knowledge  of  God;  to  know  ''all  the  nations,"  em- 
braces geography  and  history,  ethnology  and  languages ; 
to  know  ''all  things"  that  Christ  commanded,  includes 
an  understanding  of  the  Scriptures;  to  know  "all  the 
days,"  is  to  understand  "the  signs  of  the  times."  Such 
knowledge  is  high,  and,  if  I  am  to  attain  unto  even  a  small 
part  of  it,  I  must  set  myself  to  learn  without  delay. 

Prayer : 

Lord,  help  me  to  follow  Thee  as  Thou,  in  Thy  risen  life, 
art  leading  me  on  to  have  a  part  with  Thee  in  Thy  far- 
reaching  plans  for  the  whole  wide  world.  "  Thy  Kingdom 
come ;  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.  For 
Thine  is  the  Kingdom,  and  the  power  and  the  glory,  for- 
ever, Anient 


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Date  Due 

fMY  J  0  '48 

^ 

^ 


I  !l     I 


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BS2575.8.M12 
The  Messiah. 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 

IIIIIWIIII 


1    1012  00029  9240 


